The Kansas City Chiefs are bracing for the start of their season without one of their newest offensive weapons, Marquise "Hollywood" Brown. The star wide receiver is expected to be sidelined for 4-6 weeks due to a sternoclavicular joint dislocation, an injury he sustained during the Chiefs’ preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Brown, who joined Kansas City as a free agent, was part of the Chiefs' first-team offense for the initial series of the preseason game. On the very first play, he made an impressive 11-yard catch. However, his night was cut short when he suffered an injury that was initially listed as a shoulder issue. Subsequent examinations revealed the sternoclavicular joint dislocation, leading to his hospitalization for further evaluation.
The wideout spent one night under medical care and was later discharged, successfully avoiding surgery. Despite this positive development, his recovery timeline now casts doubt on his availability for the Chiefs’ regular season opener on September 5. Head coach Andy Reid confirmed the uncertainty surrounding Brown's return, stating, "I think he'll miss some time. We'll just see where it's at."
The Chiefs will certainly feel the absence of Brown, who was a first-round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2019. Brown enjoyed a standout 1,000-yard campaign in 2021 with the Ravens. Last season, after being traded to the Arizona Cardinals, he caught 51 passes for 574 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games.
Brown's injury calls to mind a similar incident in 2019 when Tyreek Hill, also a Chiefs star receiver, sustained a sternoclavicular injury and missed four weeks. Hill’s experience might offer the Chiefs some hope that Brown could adhere to a similar recovery timeline.
As the Chiefs prepare for the early part of the season without Brown, head coach Andy Reid and his coaching staff will be closely monitoring the wide receiver's recovery. Conditioning and physical therapy will play critical roles in his rehabilitation process.
With the clock ticking down to the regular season, the Chiefs will need to make strategic adjustments to their offensive game plan. The absence of Brown, a dynamic playmaker, presents a significant challenge. As Kansas City aims to stay competitive in a tough conference, they will rely on their depth and the resilience of their receiving corps.
Marquise Brown’s eventual return will undoubtedly provide a significant boost to Kansas City’s offense. Until then, the Chiefs will have to navigate the early season without one of their key weapons, hoping for a swift and complete recovery for “Hollywood” Brown.