As the Kansas City Chiefs gear up for their NFL season opener against the Baltimore Ravens, quarterback Patrick Mahomes is set to take the field without one of his key weapons. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed that star wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is unlikely to play in the much-anticipated Thursday Night Football match

Brown, who suffered a shoulder injury during Kansas City’s first preseason game in early August, was initially given a recovery timeline of 4-6 weeks. Unfortunately, his return won’t come in time for the Chiefs’ season debut

“Hollywood won’t be back this week, and we’ll just see how it goes,” Reid told reporters during a press conference on Friday, adding that the team won’t rush his recovery.

Reid is confident in his receiver’s return

Brown signed a one-year, $11 million deal with the Chiefs in March, reuniting with the AFC powerhouse in hopes of bolstering their receiving corps. The 27-year-old was poised to make a big impact after two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, but his injury will delay his debut for Kansas City.

This setback is particularly bitter as the Chiefs face Brown’s former team, the Ravens, who drafted him 25th overall in 2019. Over the course of his NFL career, Brown has been a reliable target, amassing 313 receptions for 3,644 yards and 28 touchdowns.

However, his 2023 season was a quiet one, with only 51 receptions for 574 yards and four touchdowns-career lows for the former Oklahoma standout. Despite these challenges, Reid remains confident in Brown’s abilities. “The kid’s amazing. His progress has been incredible, but I wouldn’t predict him being there this week,” he said.