BUFFALO, N.Y., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Foot issues hampered Sammy Watkins' third NFL season.
It looks like the Buffalo Bills' wide receiver doesn't want that to be the case again in 2017.
Watkins told ESPN's Mike Rodak Sunday that he doesn't think he needs another surgery on his broken left foot during the offseason.
"As of right now, no," Watkins told Rodak after the Bills' 20-3 loss to the New York Jets. "I think the biggest thing was finishing the season, and probably Monday when we do physicals or whatever, they'll basically give me the outline on my offseason, whether I should get surgery or not. I'm leaning towards not."
He left Sunday's contest in the second half with a hip injury and did not return. Watkins has never had an offseason without a medical procedure. He had hip surgery in 2015 and surgery to fix a broken bone in his foot last offseason.
Watkins told the Buffalo News last month that if he felt he needed a second surgery on the foot, he would get it.
"Right now I'm feeling really good," Watkins told Nick Veronica. "Some of the things I couldn't do, I'm doing now. It's really up to me. If I feel like I don't need a second surgery, I'm not going to get it. If I do, if it starts tweaking or hurting, then I'm going to get it. I think that's best. But for right now I feel really good."
Watkins played with the broken foot bone despite the Bills being eliminated from the playoffs. He had four catches for 31 yards against the Jets.
"And for me, it's like, I'm going to be here – trying to be here forever. So I'm not trying to start over a whole team," Watkins told Veronica.
Watkins finished the year with 430 yards and two touchdowns on 28 receptions in eight games.
Watkins said he hopes for improved discipline under the new Bills head coach.
"I think they just have to come in and whatever coach that we have, and I think [Anthony] Lynn is a great coach," Watkins told reporters. "He has that demeanor, that leadership. But the new coach has to change what needs to be changed. Change the culture, change the mindset and get players on board. If they're not listening, cut them, kick them out, whatever. Sit them on the bench. I think that will help us move forward."
