KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is set to undergo surgery for a sternoclavicular injury, and coach Andy Reid has indicated that he might miss the rest of the season.
“It’s not going to be weeks,” Reid stated Friday regarding the timeline for Brown’s return. “More like months.”
Reid emphasized that recovery times can vary significantly from player to player, particularly for this specific injury, which is not commonly studied. He expressed the necessity of monitoring Brown’s progress closely.
Rick Burkholder, the Chiefs’ vice president for sports medicine and performance, announced that Brown will have the surgery Monday in Vail, Colorado, and the team will place him on injured reserve, ensuring he will miss at least the next four games.
“I felt disappointed, frustrated, and sad when I realized I would need surgery, but that only lasted a day because of my faith in God,” Brown expressed on social media. “I know this, too, shall pass, no matter the great opportunity ahead. It’s not over, and that’s not the path God wanted for me, and I’m fine with that now.”
Brown’s injury occurred on the first play of the Chiefs’ preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 10. While he did not participate in the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on September 5, there had been hopes he could return in time for the upcoming game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“He was making great progress in rehab,” Burkholder noted. “He experienced no pain, and we were discussing his return. However, after a follow-up imaging at about four weeks post-injury, we discovered that the bone had shifted. We consulted several specialists, and it was deemed too risky for him to play without surgery.”
With Brown sidelined, the Chiefs will rely on six active wide receivers. Rashee Rice stood out in the season opener against the Ravens, recording seven receptions for 103 yards, while rookie Xavier Worthy contributed two touchdowns.
Other wide receivers on the roster include Justin Watson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman, and Skyy Moore. Reid mentioned that the team does not see a need to acquire another receiver at this time.
“I believe we have some strong players at that position,” he commented. “We have depth and feel confident in our options.”
At 27, Brown was a key free agent signing for the Chiefs this offseason. Before joining Kansas City, he played five seasons in the NFL, including three with the Ravens and two with the Arizona Cardinals. His most productive season was in 2021 with Baltimore, where he recorded 91 catches for 1,008 yards. Last season, he had 51 receptions for 574 yards with the Cardinals.