The Kansas City Chiefs are tied for the best record in football and will see wide receiver Marquise Brown return from injury in just a few weeks. A first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Oklahoma product established himself as a reliable deep threat with the Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals. Eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark in 2021, Brown had a relatively down year in 2023 and had to sign a one-year, prove-it deal with the Chiefs as a free agent. Signed to effectively replace Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Brown had the opportunity to be the best deep threat in the Chiefs passing attack since Tyreek Hill.
Unfortunately, those hopes ended before they ever had the chance to begin. Marquise Brown suffered a shoulder injury in the preseason opener, sidelining him for most of the season. While he has yet to play a snap, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the wide receiver should be back on the field around Weeks 16 or 17. This is good news for the Los Angeles Chargers, as they face off against the Chiefs in Week 14 and won’t have to face the speedster.
Marquise Brown Injury Update: Chiefs Wideout Will Return Late In Regular Season
Despite their 11-1 record, the Kansas City Chiefs offense has not played up to their usual standard in 2024. With Brown sidelined, Rashee Rice injured, and Travis Kelce slowing down, Patrick Mahomes and company needed first-round pick Xavier Worthy to hit the ground running. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened, as the Texas rookie has recorded just 407 yards and four touchdowns on 33 receptions. The big plays are there, but the consistency is not.
Once he returns from injury, Marquise Brown should give this offense a much-needed set of hands opposite recent addition DeAndre Hopkins. Acquired from the Titans in a trade, the former All-Pro has been a godsend for this offense. Through six games in Kansas City, Hopkins has recorded 26 receptions for 325 yards and three touchdowns while developing an immediate rapport with Mahomes. While this duo could terrorize the league down the stretch, the Los Angeles Chargers probably won’t have to deal directly with it.
Chargers Dodge A Bullet
At 7-4, the Los Angeles Chargers are still mathematically alive in the AFC West race but can’t afford another loss. Down 3.5 games with six left to play, Jim Harbaugh’s squad must defeat the Chiefs in Week 14 to stand any chance at winning the division and hosting a playoff game. This is much easier said than done, but that battle is considerably easier with Marquise Brown sidelined with an injury. The Chargers defense limited Kansas City to just 17 points the last time these two teams met, but an injured Justin Herbert could only power the offense to 10 points.
The team should move the ball better next week. Herbert has been arguably the NFL’s best quarterback since the bye week, shaking off his early-season injuries to put up some MVP-caliber play despite a subpar supporting cast. Second-round pick Ladd McConkey looks like the real deal, and while Quentin Johnston is coming off a rough week, the former first-round pick has shown signs of life throughout the season. Winning in Week 14 alone won’t be enough to win the division crown, but it’s a good first step for a team hoping to make a deep run in January.
