KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs fielded their most robust offensive lineup of the season as quarterback Patrick Mahomes took the start and wide receiver Marquise Brown was declared active for the matchup against the Houston Texans on Saturday.
Mahomes, who dealt with a high-ankle sprain sustained during last week’s victory in Cleveland, was cleared to play after being omitted from the final injury report. He completed a full week of practice and emphasized his commitment to playing unless his ability to protect himself was compromised.
“I don’t want to limit the game plan,” Mahomes noted. “It’s important for me to remain mobile in the pocket to avoid becoming an easy target for their defensive line. I’m focused on finding the right balance and assessing how I feel.”
In a significant boost to the offense, Brown was activated from injured reserve on Friday just days after returning to practice following surgery for a dislocated sternoclavicular joint in his shoulder. Brown suffered this injury on the initial play of the preseason game against Jacksonville, which led to uncertainties about his return this season.
Last season with Arizona, Brown recorded 51 receptions for 574 yards and four touchdowns across 14 games. Over five seasons split between Baltimore and Arizona, he has amassed 313 catches for 3,644 yards and 28 touchdowns.
“Adding another player who can stretch the field changes the dynamic,” noted Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke. “Hollywood is known for his speed, so if he’s on the field, it’s another high-caliber athlete we will need to consider.”
Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal was also in the lineup after being added to the injury report with an illness on Friday.
However, the Chiefs were missing left tackle D.J. Humphries due to a hamstring injury and safety Chamarri Conner, who was sidelined with a concussion, both ruled out earlier in the week. Other inactives included offensive linemen Ethan Driskell and C.J. Hanson, defensive linemen Malik Herring and Marlon Tuipulotu, along with linebacker Joshua Uche.
For the Texans, tight end Cade Stover was absent for the second straight game after undergoing an emergency appendectomy. He, along with defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi (ankle), offensive lineman Juice Scruggs (foot), and wide receiver John Metchie III (shoulder), had been labeled as inactive prior to the game.
The Texans also ruled out linebacker Devin White, defensive end Jerry Hughes, and offensive lineman Nick Broeker. In a positive turn, offensive guard Kenyon Green returned after missing five games due to a shoulder issue. Linebacker Christian Harris was also active despite not practicing on Friday due to an ankle injury.
The Chiefs, boasting a record of 13-1, had already secured the AFC West title while the Texans clinched the top spot in the AFC South. A victory for Kansas City, along with a loss or tie from Buffalo in their matchup against New England on Sunday, could grant them the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs.