In a dramatic turn of events, the player was given the green light to head back to Kansas City after the intense bout with the Jaguars on Saturday. The injury took place right off the bat, on the very first offensive play of the game, causing immediate alarm as Brown was brought down in a rather awkward manner, leading to his premature departure and subsequent hospitalization.
Brown sustained a sternoclavicular joint sprain, a kind of injury commonly seen in high-impact collisions. Sources have indicated that this injury bears a resemblance to the one Tyreek Hill, a former Chiefs wide receiver, suffered back in 2019. Hill’s injury necessitated a reduction procedure, but fortunately did not require surgery, a silver lining that seems to be applicable to Brown’s case as well.
After being evaluated at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, Brown was given the all-clear to head back to Kansas City. The swift discharge hints at successful management of the injury without the need for surgical intervention.
With the uncertainty surrounding Brown’s recovery timeline, his availability for the Chiefs’ season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on September 5 hangs in the balance. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid shed some light on Brown’s condition post-game, stating, “I think he’ll miss some time. We’ll just see where it’s at… they’re kind of going through it right now, and we’ll know more later on.”
Brown’s injury deals a significant blow to the Chiefs, who inked the veteran receiver to a lucrative one-year, $7 million deal during the offseason. Following a lackluster season with the Arizona Cardinals where he only managed to rack up 574 receiving yards and four touchdowns, Brown was set to play a pivotal role in Kansas City’s offense.
In Brown’s absence, the Chiefs will have to rely on other receivers to step up to the plate. Rookies Xavier Worthy, Justin Watson, Skyy Moore, and Kadarius Toney are poised to receive more playing time, while Rashee Rice could also have a chance to shine depending on roster moves.