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Just like in 2024, the\u00a0Kansas City Chiefs\u00a0are already dealing with major issues within their wide receiver corps.<\/p>\n
Rashee Rice is suspended until Week 7, Xavier Worthy sustained a separated shoulder in Week 1,\u00a0and Jalen Royals has been out\u00a0since midway through the preseason with knee tendinitis.<\/p>\n
Hollywood Brown stepped up with 10 receptions for 99 yards against the\u00a0Los Angeles Chargers\u00a0last week, but the Chiefs need other pass catchers to contribute in order for the offense to be as effective as possible. Veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster\u00a0has a similar skillset to Rice and Royals, so he\u2019s taking that role.<\/p>\n
While speaking to the media on Friday, Smith-Schuster said Tyquan Thornton is ready to take on a more prominent role within the offense with Worthy likely out for Sunday\u2019s game against the\u00a0Philadelphia Eagles.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s (Thornton) definitely been growing as a player overall,\u201d Smith-Schuster said. \u201cGetting in the playbook, a guy who stretches the field, and a guy who also can also fill that void. I could see him making those plays and getting those connections with Pat (quarterback Patrick Mahomes.)\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith-Schuster went on to describe his relationship with Thornton, which dates back to 2023 when the two were teammates on the\u00a0New England Patriots.<\/p>\n
\u201cI spent the year here before going there (New England), and for him to come here, [I took] him under my wing. He\u2019s been a guy that I\u2019ve been helping lead the way. He\u2019s just a sponge, man. He\u2019s a guy that just hooks it all in, wherever he is needed. He does his best, he plays hard, he plays fast. He\u2019s a great player. So, [I\u2019m] super excited to see him fill that void and just step up this week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both Smith-Schuster and Thornton now find themselves as vital pieces to Kansas City\u2019s passing attack. Smith-Schuster is revitalized\u00a0coming off a full and healthy offseason with the team, and Thornton has\u00a0flashed throughout training camp, preseason, and in Week 1. They\u2019ll need to be at their best if the Chiefs are going to knock off the Eagles on Sunday and avoid dropping to 0-2.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Just like in 2024, the\u00a0Kansas City Chiefs\u00a0are already dealing with major issues within their wide receiver corps. Rashee Rice is suspended until Week 7, Xavier Worthy sustained… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":32490,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kansas-city-chiefs"],"yoast_head":"\n