The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have been relatively intentional about bettering their vast receiver room this previous offseason, signing free agent Hollywood Brown and utilizing a first-round choice on Texas receiver Xavier Worthy.
As is well-known now, the Chiefs gained’t have Brown of their season-opener on Thursday evening after he suffered a sternoclavicular damage in Preseason Week 1. His timeline dictates a return in Week 2 or Week 3.
For the primary few weeks of coaching camp, the Chiefs constructed their offense believing Brown can be out there from the start of the season ahead. However within the final month, the staff has needed to pivot.
“It’s a must to regulate somewhat bit,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes advised reporters on Sunday, “simply because he’s such a significant a part of our offense. He’s somebody that may do a variety of totally different stuff; he may play a variety of totally different positions. However I believe what coach [Andy] Reid and [Brett] Veach did this yr was they introduced in a variety of competitors in that room. Guys have stepped up and brought over a few of his position.
“It’s not going to be only one man. It’s going to be a number of guys that get in there and do the issues that he does this week, after which the hope is that you’ve got him again the following week.”
Early on in coaching camp, it turned clear that the beginning receivers in 11-personnel (three wideouts) can be Brown, Worthy and Rashee Rice — and when Brown went down, the primary identify talked about by offensive coordinator Matt Nagy was veteran Justin Watson.
Watson got here to the Chiefs within the runup to the 2022 season. Since then, the teaching employees has discovered he’s a dependable participant.
“Justin’s all the time been a giant a part of it — silently,” stated Reid on the podium Sunday. “He doesn’t say a lot, and he doesn’t get a variety of [publicity]. He’s all the time been a reasonably large a part of what we do. That half gained’t change. He’ll be in there working round. And even when Hollywood comes again, he’ll be in there working round. He’s a sensible child that’s expert and likes to play the sport. [He] performs arduous each snap [in] follow [and] video games.”
Past Watson, Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore may see a couple of snaps — however their influence is extra more likely to be on particular groups. On Kansas Metropolis’s preliminary 53-player depth chart, each Hardman and Moore have been listed among the many returners.
Particular groups coordinator Dave Toub got here into camp hoping Worthy would be the beginning punt returner — however now, with Brown unavailable, it’s more likely to be Hardman. It might not be shocking to see Moore and fullback Carson Steele as the 2 kick returners.
Worthy ought to make his season debut along with his focus solely on offensive influence.
“[Worthy] spends a variety of time with Pat, and the opposite receivers, the veteran guys simply determining what Pat’s anticipating,” stated Reid of Worthy on Monday. “He’s not afraid to ask — after which he’s been keen to attempt all the things. Whether or not it’s an inside route, a type of intermediate routes or lengthy routes, he’s been very keen to get in there and blend it up. I like what I’ve seen. Like all rookie that’s coming into this factor, you wish to see how they do within the video games, however you’d assume he’d in all probability do OK.”
On Sunday within the locker room, Worthy seemed like a participant ready for the second.
“I really feel like I bought actual comfy simply understanding the system, the nuances of the system realizing why they’re doing issues,” stated Worthy. “I simply really feel like I’m prepared.”
To maybe ease any last vast receiver uncertainty, Kansas Metropolis determined to carry again a well-known face final week: JuJu Smith-Schuster. After coping with knee points the previous few seasons, the Chiefs say he’s now wholesome — and has been a breath of recent air for the quarterback.
“It’s tremendous thrilling [having Smith-Schuster] again,” Mahomes stated on Sunday. “Simply the particular person, man. Being within the locker room, being within the assembly rooms? He will get it, man. He will get find out how to be a professional. After which he works arduous. He’s out right here; he appears nice.
“I’m excited for him simply to proceed to be taught the little issues that we modified within the yr that he wasn’t there (2023), however he’s picked up a variety of the stuff actually quick, and it’s good to have that sort of man in that receiver room.”
Whereas that is apparent, it’s nonetheless value saying: Kansas Metropolis would love for Brown to be out there to play his former staff on Thursday evening. However within the days since his damage, the staff has established an air of confidence with out him.
