Chiefs head coach Andy Reid gave an update on an injured wide receiver as the team prepares to take on the Baltimore Ravens on September 5.
The 66-year-old Reid announced that Brown will not play in Week 1.
Brown suffered a collarbone injury in Kansas City’s first preseason game on August 11.
Reid did reveal that Brown’s progress has been “incredible.”
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said on Thursday that Brown’s injury was similar to Tyreek Hill’s injury in 2019, saying that Brown’s injury “falls in line with the timeline that Tyreke went through.”
While as a member of the Chiefs in 2019, Hill missed four games with the injury.
Veach also shared that Brown is “trending in the right direction” which is why the franchise didn’t place him on injured reserve.
“He’s to the point now where he can laugh without pain, so that’s a good thing,” he added.
That means the 27-year-old could be back with the team in the first month of the season.
If Brown was placed on injured reserve, he would miss the first four weeks of the season.
Kansas City signed Brown to a one-year deal after he played his last two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.
With Brown not in play for Week 1, Mahomes the Chiefs will depend on other wide receivers and nine-time Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce on offense.
Kansas City can utilize 2024 first-round pick wideout Xavier Worthy, who has shown off his speed in training camp and the preseason.
Still, the wide receiver is led by Rashee Rice, who posted 79 catches for 938 yards and seven touchdowns.
Last year, he recorded 51 receptions for 574 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games.
Kansas City will have to also rely on other wide receivers, including Justin Watson, Skyy More, Mecole Hardman, and JuJu Smith-Shuster.
The latter player Smith-Shuster was signed by the team this week.
He helped Kansas City win the Super Bowl in 2022.
The New England Patriots released Smith-Shuster during the preseason after he played with the team last season
The Chiefs will play the Ravens next week in a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game.
Kansas City won 17-10 in the play contest which helped them make a trip to the Super Bowl where they beat the San Francisco 49ers in overtime 25-22.
