On Saturday, the Kansas City Chiefs will host the Houston Texans in an AFC showdown that some expected could be the AFC Championship game. However, this game is more significant for two players, Patrick Mahomes and Hollywood Brown, who will be on the field for the first time this season.
It’s been a long, arduous road for Hollywood Brown. Hurt on the first snap of the preseason, he underwent surgery, extensive rehab, and a plethora of doctors before getting the okay to practice with the rest of his Chiefs teammates.
It’s been a long, hard struggle for Hollywood Brown, but he will finally debut in a Chiefs uniform on Saturday. I’m sure he’ll be nervous to debut inside the friendly confines of Arrowhead Stadium, but his quarterback will be just as excited.
In the off-season, the signing of free agent wide receiver Hollywood Brown was the core move that catapulted the revamping of the position on the roster. With Rashee Rice, Brown’s addition was the perfect one-two punch for Mahomes to spread the field and return the aerial assault to the Chiefs’ offense.
When the Chiefs drafted Xavier Worthy, Mahomes had to feel he hit the motherload! In OTA’s Mini-Camp and Training Camp, he slung the ball down the field like he did as a rookie quarterback.
Then Hollywood and Rice got hurt, and Worthy took a few lumps getting up to speed and learning how to get open for Mahomes.
Now, two-thirds of those weapons return, as Mahomes, suffering from a mild ankle sprain, can add another weapon to a receiving core that already includes veterans DeAndre Hopkins and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Still, Hollywood Brown is the man of the moment. He only signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs, and he’ll have three regular-season games and the postseason to either increase his stock for another team or show the Chiefs he wants to return in 2025.
Smith-Schuster and Hopkins will also be free agents, and I’m sure both would like to return to the Chiefs next season.
For now, though, it’s Brown’s turn to get his moment. From what we’ve heard in practice, he’s been on fire and added energy to the offense. His teammates are excited he’s back, and with the AFC top seed on the line, having another weapon for Mahomes isn’t hurt.
Now, a successful debut for Brown might hinge on the Chiefs offensive line. Once again, Joe Thuney will start at left tackle as DJ Humphries won’t be able to return until Wednesday when the Chiefs travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers.
Still, this is a big moment for Brown and even more significant for Mahomes. The two had incredible chemistry in the offseason and into training camp. If some of that magic can return Saturday, this offense can finally become what it was meant to be – just in time for the postseason push.
