Marquise Brown‘s first year with the Kansas City Chiefs didn’t go according to plan. On the opening snap of the 2024 preseason, the veteran wideout suffered a severe sternoclavicular joint injury – forcing him into surgery and limiting his availability to just the final stretch of the regular season and playoffs.
Now, as the Chiefs begin preparation for their title defense in 2025, Brown is finally healthy and in a position to make the impact Kansas City hoped for when they brought him aboard.
Though his on-field contributions were limited, Brown stayed connected behind the scenes.
He spent the bulk of last season in meeting rooms and walkthroughs, learning the ins and outs of Andy Reid‘s system while waiting for his chance. Patrick Mahomes believes that time spent absorbing the playbook is going to pay off.
“He’s going to be someone who makes plays for us,” Mahomes told reporters this week. “Even though he wasn’t playing, he was in those meeting rooms last year, so he has an understanding of how we do things. Then at the end of last year, kind of getting thrown in, he made some plays and did some stuff in a very hard situation. I’m excited for him, I’m excited for that whole room.”
Brown’s deep threat ability is just what Kansas City needs
Brown, once a first-round pick known for his breakaway speed and ability to stretch defenses vertically, has a clear path to a major role in Kansas City’s offense.
With questions swirling around the availability of other key receivers heading into the season, including Rashee Rice‘s legal situation, the team is counting on Brown to step up as both a playmaker and veteran presence.
The 2024 Chiefs offense was at times explosive, but inconsistent when it came to production from its wide receiver group.
While Travis Kelce remained the focal point and Rice emerged late in the year, Mahomes often had to shoulder the burden without a true field-stretching threat.
That’s where Brown fits in as someone who can get open deep, take the top off a defense, and complement Mahomes‘ improvisational style
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