Moments into Week 1, the Kansas City Chiefs suffered an injury at the worst possible position. Travis Kelce ran into receiver Xavier Worthy, causing a right shoulder injury that took out the second-year pass catcher and left an already shorthanded unit even more in question. Jalen Royals missed the game due to injury, and Rashee Rice remains suspended for five more games. With this in mind, losing Worthy instantly put the remaining two veterans into the spotlight.
Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster were expected to do the heavy lifting after the loss of the Chiefs' speedster. Smith-Schuster did his part, making a handful of nice plays and helping move the chains. However, the story of the night was the emergence of Brown as the most trusted target for Patrick Mahomes. A forced development that provided a rare bright spot in what was a frustrating night for KC fans.
Chiefs Receiver Hollywood Brown Wastes Zero Time Establishing Himself as Surprise Primary Target
Brown had been a source of frustration last season due to injury setbacks that dated back to his days with the Arizona Cardinals. There simply was no recent track record suggesting that the Chiefs were going to be able to consistently rely on the veteran. However, Week 1 changed this with Brown reeling in 10 catches for 99 yards. While much of the damage was on short throws underneath, the receiver had one huge play in the game's final moments.
Setting up the Chiefs' final field goal, Brown kept running, finding open space and allowing a scrambling Mahomes to unload the deep ball. It was a great effort from the receiver and a perfect throw from the league's best quarterback.
Brown finishing with more catches than Smith-Schuster, Noah Gray, and Travis Kelce combined was unquestionably shocking. It showed his quarterback's trust in the veteran and answered the question of who is going to be the primary target moving forward. While it remains possible the Chiefs go out and make a move, it seems more likely that the current group of weapons is kept with the understanding Rice, Worthy, and Royals are all expected to return this season.
Relying on your current weapons is the path the Chiefs have taken over the past two years, and each time the season has ended in the Super Bowl. You also have the excitement of knowing Rice isn't injured this time around, but will return from suspension in the middle of October, giving you the needed star target.
In the time remaining, the question is whether or not this production from Brown can be maintained. It was a great performance and one that showed a great deal of trust from both Mahomes and Reid. Fans are no longer questioning the fit or whether or not Brown's return was the right decision. The debate is now focused on if this level of production can be maintained until the Chiefs can get a bit healthier at the position.
For Brown, it is the perfect time for a career year, understanding that you are poised to hit free agency and could cash in one last time. No one is better at setting this up than Mahomes, who showed in Week 1 just how much trust he has in the veteran receiver.