The NFL Kickoff Game is just 17 days away, and the Kansas City Chiefs are preparing to begin their quest for a third straight Super Bowl title.
The Chiefs will host the Baltimore Ravens to start, and they are hoping to have some key players when they take the field for the first time in the regular-season in 2024.
Andy Reid Provides Latest Injury Updates for Week 1
When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Andy Reid told reporters that Chris Jones, Joe Thuney, and Jawaan Taylor should be ready to go for Week 1. Those are key players on the Chiefs, and having them on the field in Week 1 is a huge boost for an AFC Championship Game rematch with the Ravens.
There is one question mark, though, and that’s the status of wide receiver Hollywood Brown. While Reid said Brown is the only player in question, the fact there’s uncertainty surrounding the availability of a player of his status less than three weeks away from the regular-season opener is far from ideal.
Brown suffered a sternoclavicular joint dislocation in the Chiefs’ preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Reid said that it’s the same injury Tyreek Hill suffered in 2019, which caused him to miss four weeks.
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Four weeks from August 9th would be September 6th, the day after the Chiefs’ season-opening game. Based on that timetable, Brown’s availability for a Week 1 matchup against his former Ravens squad would likely come down to a game-time decision.
The Chiefs signed Brown to a one-year contract worth up to $11 million in free agency this past March. His speed and vertical route running are what this Chiefs offense needs after missing those explosive elements in 2023.
Who Would Step Up in Place of Brown?
It wasn’t just Brown who the Chiefs added to boost their wide receiver room this past offseason.
Xavier Worthy, the Chiefs’ first-round pick out of Texas, will add another speed element to their offense. If Brown can’t go in Week 1, Worthy could see a decent amount of targets.
Second-year wide receiver Rashee Rice had a strong rookie campaign in 2023, catching 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. He and Patrick Mahomes already have a great connection, and it may have to go another level this season if Brown can’t go against Baltimore.
Of course, Travis Kelce is still with the Chiefs. He’s taken over plenty of big games in his career, including in the playoffs and Super Bowl LVIII this past February. But if the Ravens defense finds a way to limit him, Worthy and Rice are both going to see a lot of targets and will need to step up.
Running back Isiah Pacheco had 44 catches last year, so he can also contribute as a pass catcher. He could also get an increased number of carries if the Chiefs lean on their running game more than they usually do.
Brown was brought in to make the Chiefs’ receiving room more explosive. But if he’s not on the field for Week 1, there are certainly other players that can help make up for his absence.