Kansas City Chiefs WR Hollywood Brown was placed on injured reserve in the preseason with a shoulder injury, which required surgery. He’s missed most of the season, but he is set to make his comeback Week 16 against the Houston Texans. When he takes the field on Saturday, the Chiefs will finally have a full complement of receivers at their disposal.
Hollywood Brown Eyeing Week 16 Return vs. Texans
When Brown was signed in the offseason, he was supposed to be another weapon in quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ arsenal. Instead, when Brown made his first catch of the preseason against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he landed awkwardly on his shoulder and suffered the unfortunate injury.
He was placed on injured reserve in September. But now, he is scheduled to make his return to the Chiefs on Saturday vs. the Texans. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Thursday that Brown will be activated for the contest “assuming everything continues trending positively this week.”
Brown practiced in full Thursday and does not carry an injury designation for this weekend’s game.
Head coach Andy Reid said Thursday (Dec. 19) that Brown has “a good chance” to be officially activated from IR in time to make his season debut Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The speedy wideout’s lack of an injury designation reflects that optimism.
Brown will be on the field for his first regular-season game with rookie speedster Xavier Worthy and veterans DeAndre Hopkins and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
With Mahomes still recovering from a high ankle sprain, it must make him feel better knowing he has most of his weapons on the field. Mahomes, who was injured in the Week 15 contest, is expected to start as well against the Texans.
Worthy leads all Chiefs wide receivers with 494 yards this season, and this can be a dangerous trio of receivers. Their quick camaraderie would only help the Chiefs Kingdom in their quest for a third straight Lombardi Trophy. The Chiefs have gone 13-1 without Brown and should be even more dynamic with him.
Brown can stretch the defense with his speed and create openings underneath because of his ability to draw safeties his way. The Chiefs will have plenty of spacing with Brown on the field to open passing lanes for the other wide receivers and tight end Travis Kelce.
The Chiefs have also been without their No. 1 receiver Rashee Rice, who has been out since Week 4. He suffered a major knee injury against the Los Angeles Chargers, which makes the return of Brown even more important as the Chiefs get ready for the playoffs.