Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown is set to undergo surgery for his dislocated shoulder joint and has been placed on injured reserve, according to a source familiar with the decision. The injury will sideline Brown for at least the next four weeks. The team had been hopeful that Brown would be able to return to play, but his absence from practice due to the injury led to the decision for surgery.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid had previously mentioned that Brown was nearing a return to the field. Brown sustained the dislocated shoulder joint against the Jaguars on August 10 and has not participated in practice sessions this week. The defending Super Bowl champions are scheduled to face the Bengals on Sunday.
Comparisons have been drawn between Brown’s injury and a similar one suffered by former Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill in 2019, which resulted in Hill missing four weeks of play. Despite initial hopes of Brown returning within a similar timeframe, the need for surgery will likely extend his time on the sidelines.
In Brown’s absence, other receivers on the Chiefs roster stepped up in the season-opening game against Baltimore. Second-year player Rashee Rice had a notable performance with seven catches for 103 yards, while Xavier Worthy, the team’s first-round draft pick, made significant contributions with touchdowns both running and receiving. Backup receiver Justin Watson also made an impact with a 25-yard catch.
Additionally, the Chiefs are anticipating a stronger performance from JuJu Smith-Schuster, who re-signed with the team after being released by the Patriots. Smith-Schuster had limited practice time before facing the Ravens in the previous game, which may have restricted his plays on the field.