The first season for wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown with the Kansas City Chiefs was over before it started following his shoulder injury on the first play of the Chiefs’ preseason opener versus the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Surgery and a trip to the injured reserve list followed, which was supposed to put a close on the 2024 season for Brown. But what would his status be if the Chiefs reach the playoffs, which seems all but certain at this point?
Here’s the latest on the wide receiver’s injury situation and his chances for a return this season.
Will Hollywood Brown Return From Injury This Season?
Brown suffered his injury following an 11-yard reception from Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes on the first play of the preseason.
In one play, what was supposed to be a valuable piece to the Chiefs’ quest to three-peat became the first of a horrific string of injuries to the Kansas City receiving unit.
During this season, in addition to losing Brown, the Chiefs have had to deal with injuries to Rashee Rice (knee) in September, and JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) in October.
The recent trade acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins should provide some much-needed production.
Officially official.
Welcome to Chiefs Kingdom, @DeAndreHopkins 🫡 pic.twitter.com/9yqz7pqSMi
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) October 24, 2024
When Will Brown Return From Injury?
After attempting to see if Brown’s shoulder injury would heal enough for him to get back on the field, Brown and the Chiefs made the decision to have surgery in mid-September, which put an end to Brown’s season, at least in the regular season.
However, recent comments from head coach Andy Reid have led to speculation that Brown could possibly return to the field during the playoffs.
Last week, regarding Brown’s status, Reid said that the wide receiver was on schedule or “a little ahead of schedule” in his rehabilitation progress. However, Reid did not provide any timeline on Brown’s recovery, so at this point, it appears that any discussion of a return before 2025 is simply speculation.
Will Brown Be a Starter When He Returns?
Brown signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs last March, and it appeared he would play alongside Rice, forming one of the top receiving duos in the league.
Brown has had a solid career in the NFL, one that saw him start 65 of 72 games with the Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals combined. He has averaged 63 receptions for 729 yards per season in his career, with 28 career touchdown receptions.
His best season came in 2021 with the Ravens, when Brown caught a career-high 91 passes for 1,008 yards, the only 1,000-yard season of his career.
How Old Is Brown?
At 27 years of age, Brown still has the potential for some productive seasons before reaching the dreaded age-30 marker. While in the past many wide receivers have seen their careers begin to take a dip once they reach the age of 30, Brown will only be 28 by the time the 2025 training camp opens.
As for his future beyond this season, it’s much like this season: uncertain. As mentioned, Brown signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs last offseason, so where he goes from here is a mystery at the moment.