Shortly after Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown was placed on injured reserve ahead of undergoing shoulder surgery, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Brown is expected to miss the entire 2024 regular season. We had already been told by head coach Andy Reid that Brown’s recovery period had been adjusted to “months” and not “weeks,” but the sternoclavicular injury will seemingly keep Brown from returning this year. 
Brown signed a one-year, $7MM deal with the Chiefs this offseason after finishing out his rookie contact with the Cardinals. Originally a Ravens Day 1 selection, Brown was impressive over his time in Baltimore, scoring 21 touchdowns over those three seasons and breaking the 1,000-yard receiving mark in his final year with the team. The Ravens surprisingly included him in a draft day trade that allowed them to move back into the first round and select Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum.
During his two years in Arizona, Brown failed to find the same consistent success in the endzone. Though he twice finished second on the team in receiving yards, Brown only secured seven touchdowns during his time as a Cardinal. That hurt his free agent market during the offseason, although with a career yards per reception average of 11.6, the 27-year-old represented one of the top speedsters available and positioned himself to handle a notable role in Kansas City. Now, any game action he sees this campaign will come during the playoffs.
Consistency at the receiver position was an issue for the Chiefs in 2023, with the team’s passing efficiency not reaching its previous heights en route to a second straight Super Bowl title. Brown’s signing was followed by the decision to draft Xavier Worthy in the first round. The latter enjoyed an impressive debut (68 scrimmage yards, two total touchdowns) while logging a 63% snap share and he will be counted on to operate as a key vertical threat in Brown’s absence.
Since 2023 second-rounder Rashee Rice is set to continue playing without the threat of any suspension for the time being, he will remain a focal point for Kansas City’s offense. The team also has familiar faces in Mecole Hardman and JuJu Smith-Schuster in place after Hardman was re-acquired midway through last season and Smith-Schuster returned to the team following his Patriots release. The Chiefs’ depth chart is rounded out by Skyy Moore and Justin Watson as things stand.
With roughly $6MM in cap space, Kansas City does not have nearly as much spending power as many other teams at the moment. That would make an outside addition challenging, but the team has a number of other pass catchers (including, of course, All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce) to rely on. For Brown, meanwhile, his attention will turn to recovery once his operation takes place ahead of what will no doubt be a relatively tepid free agent Market next spring.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
“Hey Kadarius, whatchyuupto?”
“Hey Bighead, U Up?”
Not like it matters. They replaced him with Worthy.
First the bills go and lose and draft oj Simpson giving us the kardashians and now they give the chiefs worthy.
Worst. Franchise. Ever.
If the glove fits. . . .
2 for 2
I laugh how Worthy is all of a sudden one of the top receivers in the league to some people because he hauled in a blown coverage touchdown that probably 40% of the people in the stands would have walked into the end zone had they been in his position.
As a Chiefs fan, I’m surprised that anyone would consider him one of the top receivers in the league, after one NFL game in his career. I think he’s got an amazing future ahead of him, but throwing around those kind of accolades is a little premature.
And trust me, I’m a guy that’s very familiar with premature. LOL
Top receiver in the league? No
Someone who can catch balls unlike Toney? Yes.
Thanks a lot Bills. Just what Chiefs need. Speedster who can catch balls.
Daaaamn that just SUCKS
Hunter Renfrow come on down!
Quite possibly????
That’s Hollywood, Florida Brown btw
Well the non suspension of the high driver racing his friend at over 100 mph in a car loaded with drugs then a felony level assault makes sense.
Yea, Worthy scored easily on a blown coverage, but did you see him blow by everyone on a jet sweep, dudes gonna be a downfield threat like it or not, I just wouldn’t send the little guy in the middle of the field
I’m assuming this is in response to me? I think he will be a good player. I also think it’s incredibly dumb to somehow think that Buffalo gifted the Chiefs the next great superstar player like people are implying they did with Mahomes. Buffalo got better value in that deal based on draft pick position. You have to wait years to determine who ended up winning or losing trades like that.