WR Rumors: Tyson, Eagles, Waddle, Moore, Giants, Bears, Cowboys, Cards, Colts
One of the wide receivers expected to go off the draft board in Round 1, Jordyn Tyson did not work out at the Combine and will not participate at Arizona State’s pro day Friday. Tyson missed time with a hamstring injury last season, and it has apparently affected his pre-draft timeline. Tyson, however, will work out for teams April 17, ESPN.com’s Field Yates tweets. That said, the former Colorado recruit will only do positional drills that day. As our Ely Allen pointed out in December, Tyson is a high-ceiling prospect but one that carries injury baggage. Knee and collarbone injuries affected Tyson in separate years with the Sun Devils, and this hamstring issue — when coupled with past maladies — could certainly affect his draft stock. But his 1,101-yard 2024 slate should provide a solid first-round floor. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah ranks Tyson 21st overall in this class.
Here is the latest from the receiver ranks:
- Regardless of their A.J. Brown decision, the Eagles will target a receiver in the draft, The Athletic’s Zach Berman notes. Howie Roseman hit with DeVonta Smith in 2021 but famously missed with Jalen Reagor (Round 1, 2020) and JJ Arcega-Whiteside (Round 2, 2019). A receiver move should be expected early, Berman adds, though he notes optimism exists among decisionmakers Smith can make another jump with a boost in targets. A Brown trade — heavily rumored to be in the works after June 1 — would create a critical need for Philly, but a rookie stepping in alongside Smith and Marquise Brown would stand to bolster the slender WR’s role within the offense.
- Marquise Brown joined the Eagles on a one-year deal worth $5MM in base value, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. The former Ravens, Cardinals and Chiefs wideout can max out at $6.5MM on the contract. Brown’s $5MM is fully guaranteed, which marks only a slight discount from his 2025 Kansas City terms (one year, $7MM).
- The Broncos have already used Jaylen Waddle‘s contract to create cap space, with Wilson indicating the team converted $15.42MM of the trade pickup’s option bonus to a signing bonus. Waddle is still due $17.24MM in 2026 compensation, 9News’ Mike Klis adds, but his cap number checks in at $4.88MM. That number will jump to $27.1MM in 2027, however, with $15.2MM of Waddle’s ’27 compensation being guaranteed. Acquiring Waddle’s $28.25MM-per-year contract from the Dolphins last week, Broncos hold $18.75MM in 2026 cap space, per OverTheCap.
- The Bills also restructured their WR trade acquisition’s contract, converting $22.19MM in base salary into a signing bonus. This created $17.75MM in cap space, according to OverTheCap. D.J. Moore‘s 2026 cap hit sits at just $6.75MM, though like Waddle, he is due a hefty 2027 guarantee ($15.5MM). Buffalo holds $12.29MM in cap space.
- Already reworking Terence Steele and Malik Hooker‘s contracts, the Cowboys adjusted Jonathan Mingo‘s as well. Mingo accepted a pay cut, per Wilson, who notes the former second-round pick is now on a $1.15MM deal that includes no guaranteed money. After underwhelming on his rookie deal and missing 2025 time due to injury, Mingo will vie for a roster spot. One year remains on his rookie deal.
- Darnell Mooney was tied to a three-year, $39MM Falcons deal, but ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan notes his one-year Giants pact is worth just $3MM in base value. That figure does come fully guaranteed, per Wilson, who notes the contract can max out at $10MM. Calvin Austin‘s Giants agreement comes in at just $1.5MM, according to OverTheCap, with $400K guaranteed. The slot receiver’s deal can max out at $3MM, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan, who notes the ex-Steeler’s playing time incentives start at a 45% snap rate; his catch incentives begin at 35, with his yardage escalators starting at 400. Meeting the minimum thresholds in each category would earn Austin $150K.
- Rounding up some other recent WR terms, the Bears are giving Kalif Raymond a one-year deal worth $3.5MM. The contract includes $3MM fully guaranteed, Wilson tweets, and can max out at $5.1MM. The Cardinals’ Devin Duvernay deal is worth $1.85MM in base value, per Wilson, who adds $550K is guaranteed at signing. The Colts will have Nick Westbrook-Ikhine tied to a one-year, $1.4MM deal, Wilson adds, noting $438K is guaranteed at signing.
Eagles’ Marquise Brown Considered Ravens Reunion
Yesterday, we saw veteran wide receiver Marquise Brown join his fourth NFL team as he heads into the eighth year of his professional career. In an appearance on the Speakeasy talk show with Emmanuel Acho and LeSean McCoy, Brown disclosed that, before he signed with the Eagles, he considered reuniting with the team that drafted him in Baltimore. 
Appearing on the show yesterday for a short interview, Brown was asked what other teams he considered signing with. He explained that, in his second experience in free agency, his agent was the person communicating with any interested teams and that he didn’t get involved until it came down to the few teams that really seemed to want him, based on how much interest they showed his agent. He did mention, though, that he “was really considering going back to Baltimore.”
Of all the wide receivers Baltimore has drafted in its 30-year tenure as the Ravens, only three have eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving in Baltimore. In 1999, they found a fourth-round gem in Brandon Stokley, who would go on to see that success with Peyton Manning in Indianapolis after failing to surpass 360 yards in Baltimore. The team would have to wait another 12 years before finding another 1,000-yard receiver in the draft. In 2011, they drafted Torrey Smith in the second round, and he became their first ever drafted receiver to record 1,000 yards with the team, doing so in his third season. Brown, arriving eight years later, was the fourth first-round wideout in the team’s history and the first to record a 1,000-yard season. Zay Flowers has since joined him in that honor as the Ravens have now seen two of six first-round receivers reach that milestone.
Like Smith, Brown reached that threshold in his third year with the Ravens, but unlike Smith, Brown didn’t get another year with the team after accomplishing the feat. Despite having recorded the Raven’s first 1,000-yard season since 2016, Brown was reportedly unhappy with his usage in Baltimore and asked to be traded. the Ravens paired him with a third-round pick and sent him to Arizona, getting the Cardinals’ first-round pick in return.
Since leaving Baltimore, Brown has failed to build on the success of his 2021 season. He seemed to be on pace to continue progressing in his first year with the Cardinals, amassing 485 yards in just six games, but he would miss the next five games due to injury and struggle to get that production back, ending the year with 709 yards. His second year in Arizona saw him record 574 receiving yards in 14 games. As a free agent, Brown signed with the Chiefs, but a preseason injury would hold him out until the last three weeks of the season. In 2025, he played in 16 games for the first time since he left Baltimore and recorded 587 yards and five touchdowns in a semi-resurgent season in Kansas City.
After four years of failing to reach the heights he reached in Baltimore with Lamar Jackson, one can hardly fault Brown for considering a return to Baltimore. Doing so hints that Brown may now be able to look past the issues he had with his usage in the past, which should benefit him as he heads to Philadelphia, where A.J. Brown has had some similar complaints in recent years. With Jahan Dotson departed in free agency and Brown, perhaps, on his way out the door, as well, Hollywood is set to headline a retooled group of receivers behind WR1 DeVonta Smith.
Eagles, WR Marquise Brown Agree To Deal
Marquise Brown‘s free agent spell is set to come to an end. The veteran wideout has agreed to terms with the Eagles, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. 
This will be a one-year pact, per Schultz. He adds the deal’s maximum value is $6.5MM. Brown is in position to join his fourth career NFL team. The Eagles entered Tuesday with over $40MM in cap space, making this contract easy to absorb.
A first-round pick of the Ravens in 2019, Brown spent his first three seasons with Baltimore. He requested and was granted a trade, setting up a two-year run with Arizona. During his first trip to free agency, Brown took a one-year deal with the Chiefs. He did the same last offseason.
The Oklahoma product was limited to only two games in 2024, but he made 16 appearances this past campaign. Brown totaled 587 yards and five touchdowns on 49 catches while the Chiefs struggled to find consistency in the passing game. His 12.0 yards per reception average fell in line with his career average, though. Brown, 29 in June, will be expected to remain a vertical threat upon arrival in Philadelphia.
The Eagles lost Jahan Dotson in free agency, creating the need for a new No. 3 receiver in their case. If Brown is counted on as a replacement in that capacity, he could prove to be an effective addition. The speedster has topped 1,000 yards once in his career while also managing strong complementary numbers at other points. Dotson logged 10 starts in 2025 but he produced only 18 receptions and one score in that time.
Of course, today’s move comes against the backdrop of uncertainty regarding A.J. Brown‘s future. The All-Pro has long been the subject of trade speculation, with the Eagles exploring their options on that front. At this point, the Patriots remain the top potential landing spot, though a deal may not take place until after June 1 based on the cap implications of waiting beyond that date. An expectation persists that Brown will be playing elsewhere in 2026.
If that were to be the case, the addition of Marquise Brown could be particularly impactful. DeVonta Smith remains in the fold, but pairing him with another undersized wideout would greatly alter the Eagles’ offense. On the other hand, retaining A.J. Brown would give Philadelphia a strong top three at the WR spot with the team aiming for improvement under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion.
Rico Dowdle, Calais Campbell, Von Miller Among Players Pursuing Incentives
The Panthers will face the Buccaneers in Week 18 with the NFC South on the line. Running back Rico Dowdle, one of the Panthers’ most important weapons, is dealing with a toe injury. It doesn’t appear it will sideline him, though, as head coach Dave Canales said he expects Dowdle to play Saturday (via Joe Person of The Athletic).
Along with winning the division, there’s a lot at stake financially for Dowdle, who’s seven scrimmage yards away from 1,350. If he reaches that total, Dowdle will earn a $1MM bonus, per Devon Henderson and Tobias Bass of The Athletic. Dowdle has rushed for 1,066 yards and added another 277 as a receiver while appearing in all 16 of Carolina’s games. The former Cowboy has given the Panthers plenty of bang for their buck on a one-year deal worth up to $6.25MM.
Dowdle isn’t the only veteran aiming to boost his earnings in Week 18. Here’s a look at several others (via Henderson and Bass):
- Chiefs wide receiver Hollywood Brown has hauled in five touchdowns in 15 games. He’ll earn an extra $750K if he grabs touchdown No. 6 against the Raiders on Sunday. It’s a long shot, but Brown will add an extra $1MM if he catches three TDs. After re-upping with the Chiefs on a one-year pact worth up to $11MM last offseason, he’s on track to reach free agency in March.
- Cardinals defensive lineman Calais Campbell needs one sack to hit 7.5 for the season. If he gets it done against the Rams on Sunday, Campbell will rake in a $500K bonus. That would be a nice way to go out for Campbell, who said before the season that this will likely be his last year. Campbell began his storied career with the Cardinals in 2008 and spent his first nine seasons in Arizona. After playing for four other teams, the six-time Pro Bowler returned to the desert last April on a one-year, $5.5MM guarantee.
- Jaguars defensive lineman Arik Armstead will collect a $1MM bonus if he picks up 1.5 sacks and reaches seven for the season against the Titans on Sunday. Armstead has piled up 5.5 sacks in 15 games in 2025, the second season of a three-year, $51MM deal.
- While little has gone right for the Commanders in 2025, last summer’s Von Miller signing has worked out. After inking a one-year pact worth up to $6.1MM, Miller has recorded eight sacks in 16 games. The 36-year-old will secure a $1MM bonus if he registers his ninth sack in Sunday’s meeting with the Eagles.
- With 70-plus catches and over 700 yards, Saints tight end Juwan Johnson has already maxed out his $750K incentive package for 2025. The 29-year-old has pulled in 74 catches for 828 yards and three touchdowns in the best season of his career. He’ll earn a fully guaranteed $9MM in 2026, the second season of a three-year, $30.75MM accord.
AFC Contract Details: Garrett, Stingley, Broncos, Bills, Jaguars, Titans, Chargers
Beginning with two record-setting deals, here are the latest contract details from the AFC:
- Myles Garrett, DE (Browns). Four years, $160MM. Garrett’s $88.8MM full guarantee consists of a $21.54MM signing bonus, fully guaranteed base salaries in 2025 and ’26 and a fully guaranteed 2026 option bonus. Almost all of Garrett’s 2027 compensation is guaranteed as well, with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio noting a $39.34MM option bonus shifts to a full guarantee no later than Day 3 of the 2026 league year. Garrett’s $21.41MM 2028 option bonus is guaranteed for injury and will shift to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the 2027 league year. Only $800K of Garrett’s $38MM 2029 base salary will be guaranteed a year out, however; Garrett’s $38MM 2030 base is nonguaranteed. The option bonuses and four void years will help keep Garrett’s cap numbers under $30MM until 2028.
- Derek Stingley Jr., CB (Texans). Three years, $90MM. Of Stingley’s eye-popping $89MM guarantee, only $48MM is locked in at signing, Florio adds. Early protections, as in the Garrett contract, are included here as well. After fully guaranteed base salaries in 2025 and ’26, Stingley will see his $20MM 2027 base salary shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee in March 2026. That same structure is in place for 2027, with a $21MM salary moving from guaranteed for injury to fully guaranteed by March 2027. Stingley’s 2029 base is nonguaranteed.
- D.J. Jones, DT (Broncos). Three years, $39MM. Jones fetched an impressive second Broncos contract. Before the team reunited him with 49ers teammates Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga, Jones scored a $26MM full guarantee, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Two void years are in this Denver deal.
- Dre Greenlaw, LB (Broncos): Three years, $31.5MM. This base value checks in a touch south of the initial reports as well. Of that sum, $11.5MM is fully guaranteed, per Spotrac. Another $2MM locks in on Day 5 of the 2026 league year, via OverTheCap, but Greenlaw’s injury trouble looks to have affected him on the market after all. A $3MM incentive package is present, and Denver can move on from the deal for less than $5MM in 2026 dead money.
- Josh Palmer, WR (Bills). Three years, $29MM. This is south of the $36MM number initially reported. TD and yardage incentives cover $6MM, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan tweets. The ex-Charger will see $15MM fully guaranteed. Palmer’s 2025 salary is locked in, and $4.84MM of his $9.66MM 2026 base salary is as well. Another $3MM will convert from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the ’26 league year, per OverTheCap.
- Cody Barton, LB (Titans). Three years, $21MM. The nomadic defender will see $13.3MM fully guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Both Barton’s 2025 and ’26 salaries are guaranteed, with Wilson adding $1.5MM of his 2027 base is as well.
- Robert Hainsey, C (Jaguars). Three years, $21MM. Hainsey will receive $10MM fully guaranteed, Wilson tweets. Of Hainsey’s $6.25MM 2026 base salary, $3MM is guaranteed at signing. The rest locks in if Hainsey is still a Jaguar by Day 5 of the 2026 league year.
- Eric Murray, S (Jaguars). Three years, $19.5MM. This massive Murray raise from his Texans deals brings $10MM fully guaranteed, per OverTheCap. Murray will see $3.5MM of his 2026 base salary locked in, while Wilson adds the rest becomes guaranteed on Day 5 of the ’26 league year.
- Marquise Brown, WR (Chiefs). One year, $6.85MM. This is down from the “up to” $11MM report, with Wilson indicating $6.5MM is guaranteed. After a season-marring injury, Brown takes a slight pay cut (after a $7MM 2024 deal).
- Benjamin St-Juste, CB (Chargers). One year, $2.5MM. The Chargers are guaranteeing St-Juste $1MM, Wilson adds. This profiles as a flier on a four-year Washington regular, whose $1.5MM base salary is nonguaranteed.
Chiefs To Re-Sign WR Marquise Brown
Two of the Chiefs’ wide receiver starters were set to hit free agency, but a Saturday agreement will chop that total to one. Marquise Brown is re-signing with the team, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports.
Brown agreed to a one-year deal that could be worth up to $11MM, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero add. This deal comes after Brown missed 15 regular-season games due to a shoulder injury. Although injury trouble has become a regular occurrence for Brown, the former Ravens and Cardinals wideout will attempt to bounce back in an offense he learned last year.
Free agency brought Brown to Kansas City last year, as the former first-round pick signed for just $7MM in base value. While incentives were part of the deal, Brown lost out on that route after suffering an SC joint injury that required surgery. Brown did make his return in Week 16, but he did not make much of an impact in the playoffs for a Chiefs team that saw its threepeat bid end with a blowout Super Bowl loss.
Brown, 28 this year, caught nine passes for 91 yards in his two regular-season games with the Chiefs. He added just five catches for 50 yards in the team’s three playoff games. The Chiefs will bet on the 5-foot-9 receiver showing better form next season, when the team will hope for better luck on the health front for the former Ravens and Cardinals starter.
Coming into the NFL with a first-round pedigree, the Oklahoma alum’s stock has trended downward since a 1,000-yard season in 2021. The Ravens managed to trade Brown for a package that included a first-rounder, but he missed eight total games with the Cardinals and did not clear 800 yards in a season. Brown was with Arizona during its period that brought Kyler Murray ACL rehab; the Cardinals lost Murray in December 2022 and did not have him back until November 2023. Brown also dealt with health trouble, suffering a foot fracture in 2022 and a heel injury that nagged him in 2023. Brown topped out at 709 yards during his two-year Arizona tenure.
The Chiefs have seen their post-Tyreek Hill receiver plans largely fail to pan out. The Chiefs have struggled at this position over the past two years, seeing injuries and underperformance reduce a former offensive juggernaut to a station-to-station offense that grew to rely more on a better defense and late-game escapes. Kadarius Toney did not pan out, and Rashee Rice suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 4 last season. DeAndre Hopkins largely did not impress after being a trade pickup. Although Rice and Xavier Worthy respectively came on down the stretches of the 2023 and ’24 seasons, both have been arrested over the past year. Worthy’s domestic violence arrest Friday places him on the suspension radar along with Rice.
These issues leave the Chiefs in need of having available receivers. Brown is far from a beacon of availability, but the Chiefs may need to lean on him more when Rice’s likely suspension commences and if Worthy ends up facing a ban as well.
Chiefs “Very Interested” In Re-Signing WR Marquise Brown
The Chiefs want to keep Marquise Brown, but the team could face some competition for the wide receiver. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the organization is “very interested” in re-signing the impending free agent.
However, Fowler cautions that Hollywood should have a robust market as teams seek speedy outside receiver options. Several sources even believe an AFC foe could provide the Chiefs with the most competition for Brown’s services, as it’s believed Josh Allen “has long wanted to play” with the wideout.
After finishing his final season in Arizona with a career-low 574 receiving yards, Hollywood seemed to land in a perfect spot to rehabilitate his value. However, after inking his one-year deal in the offseason, Brown suffered a sternoclavicular injury during the preseason that kept him on the shelf for most of the 2024 campaign. He averaged 45.5 receiving yards in his two regular season appearances, and he’s hauled in three catches on seven targets in the postseason.
Considering his 2024 season was all but lost, suitors will presumably be looking to sign Brown to a similar one-year pact. The Chiefs would be a logical favorite to re-sign the receiver, especially since Patrick Mahomes advocated for the signing in the first place. However, if Brown is looking to parlay his next contract into a long-term deal, he may struggle to garner the necessary targets in Kansas City. First-round rookie Xavier Worthy occasionally looked the part of a WR1 in 2024, and the team will also welcome back Rashee Rice in 2025.
The Bills will continue to be connected to available wide receivers in a post-Stefon Diggs era, although the team (and their MVP QB) managed just fine in 2024. While the team is interested in re-signing Amari Cooper, there’s a chance they move on from the midseason acquisition, and veteran Mack Hollins is also set to hit free agency. That leaves second-round rookie Keon Coleman and third-year WR Khalil Shakir as the only guarantees on the depth chart.
Chiefs Activate WR Marquise Brown From IR
As expected, Marquise Brown is in position to make his season debut tomorrow. The veteran wideout is being activated by the Chiefs, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. The Chiefs have since made the activation official.
Brown faced high expectations in the lead-in to the 2024 season, given the Chiefs’ track record of success incorporating speedsters into their offense. Brown has proven himself to be one of the league’s top vertical threats during his career, although it came as no surprise when he took only a one-year pact to head to Kansas City. An SC joint injury resulted in surgery and a lengthy stint on injured reserve, though.
As a result, the possibility remained that Brown would be sidelined for the entire campaign, one in which the WR position has been a sore spot particularly after Rashee Rice being lost for the year. However, Brown has made progress in his recovery after the operation and he received clearance to practice last week. Activation in time for Week 15 was not feasible, but signs have pointed to an activation taking place in time for Kansas City’s contest against Houston on Saturday. Once this move is made official, the Chiefs will have four IR activations remaining.
Kansas City ranks just 13th in the league in passing yards per game (224), and improving on that number will be a goal in advance of the postseason. The trade acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins has proven effective, with the three-time All-Pro averaging 11.2 yards per reception and scoring four touchdowns in his first eight Chiefs games. Brown will look to add a new deep threat to the team’s passing game as Kansas aims to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
If he can do so, the 27-year-old will help his stock ahead of free agency. Brown landed $6.5MM guaranteed on his Chiefs deal, one which has not gone according to plan so far given his missed time. A strong outing through the remainder of the campaign could rebuild his value to an extent on another Kansas City pact or one sending him elsewhere, though. Brown topped 1,000 yards during his third and final Ravens campaign, but the trade which sent him to the Cardinals was followed up by missed time in 2022 and ’23. Health will be a key factor in determining Brown’s standing around the league moving forward.
In the meantime, his attention will turn to his performances down the stretch as the Chiefs eye a third straight Super Bowl run. The team will have one more skill position contributor available for that process.
Patrick Mahomes, Marquise Brown Likely To Play In Week 16
DECEMBER 19: The Chiefs do indeed plan to activate Brown ahead of Saturday’s Texans matchup, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Provided the next few days do not include any setbacks, he will have a stretch of three contests in the lineup to prepare for Kansas City’s postseason run.
DECEMBER 17: The 2022 playoffs showcased Patrick Mahomes‘ ability to play through ankle injuries, as a gimpy version of the Chiefs superstar powered through a high ankle sprain to lead the team to a Super Bowl win. As the Chiefs aim to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls, Mahomes does not appear likely to be sidelined as a result of a similar setback.
Suffering a high ankle sprain against the Browns in Week 15, Mahomes said (via The Associated Press’ Dave Skretta) this one is not as bad as the injury he sustained against the Jaguars in the 2022 divisional round. Mahomes practiced in full today, swinging the door open to a start against the Texans on Saturday.
“Jacksonville was worse. That one was pretty significant,” Mahomes said. “Obviously it’s responded better, quicker. That would be the best thing to say. But I want to be in a better spot than I was that next game going up against the Bengals.”
Since taking over for Alex Smith in 2018, Mahomes has only missed two starts due to injury. Both came in 2019. While Mahomes did miss a drive in the above-referenced Jaguars game and was down for much of the second half of a 2020 divisional-round game against the Browns (due to a concussion), he has been one of the NFL’s most durable quarterbacks. As a Chiefs team walking a tightrope (plus-70 point differential, 11th in the NFL) aims for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, Mahomes appears set to be back and have a new weapon at his disposal.
Marquise Brown‘s return from a summer shoulder injury has reached the point where it looks likely he will debut Saturday as well. Rumored to be on track for a Week 16 return, Brown logged a full practice Tuesday. The Chiefs lost Brown to an injury in his preseason debut and then lost Rashee Rice for the year. While Rice is done, Brown is set to be activated from IR soon.
Brown’s timetable has fluctuated since he went down in August. He had been on track to come back in September, but subsequent developments led to the wideout’s SC joint injury being tabbed to cost him the season. Rumblings in November, however, led to a return being back in play. The former Ravens and Cardinals receiver will likely have three games — depending on the Chiefs’ clinching scenarios for home-field advantage — to acclimate before the playoffs.
This has not been a good season for Mahomes, who is averaging a career-low 6.7 yards per attempt as the Chiefs have consistently struggled on offense. While the Chiefs are an NFL-best 13-1, they have relied on several late escapes rather than displaying the kind of dominance they did during their franchise cornerstone’s early QB1 years. Nevertheless, Kansas City leads Buffalo by two games. But the team has road tilts against the Steelers and Broncos following its Texans matchup. The Steelers game comes on Christmas Day, giving Mahomes a short recovery time after the Chiefs’ Saturday outing.
While it would be prudent if the Chiefs exercised caution here, Mahomes managed to get by against the Jaguars and Bengals two seasons ago despite being limited in terms of mobility. Aggravating the ankle malady in Super Bowl LVII, Mahomes memorably delivered a late scramble to put the Chiefs in range for what became a game-winning field goal. This Chiefs team has not proven to be as talented, as Travis Kelce has declined at 35, leaving it vulnerable due to the Bills having the head-to-head tiebreaker. Buffalo also faces only teams with double-digit losses (the Patriots and Jets) over the final three weeks.
Brown’s return stands to provide a potential boost, though it is probably safe to assume the Chiefs will not resemble their Tyreek Hill-era attacks even with the 5-foot-9 speedster in uniform. Kansas City ranks 12th in scoring offense and 14th in yardage. Two Chiefs wins would secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed, with the potential for two weeks of rest — in Week 18 and the bye — on the horizon. That appears to be the team’s plan, rather than using Carson Wentz while Mahomes rests now, moving forward.
Chiefs WR Marquise Brown Designated For Return
DECEMBER 15: Not playing today, Brown may not be too far from making his elusive debut as a Chief. Good form in his return to practice has made the free agency addition a candidate to resurface in Kansas City’s Week 16 game against Houston, Rapoport offers. While Rashee Rice is done for the season, the Chiefs could have all their remaining wideouts ready to go soon.
DECEMBER 13: Brown is indeed set to practice today, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports. Activation in time for Week 15 could be in play as a result, although that would come as a surprise after very limited work in preparation for Kansas City’s upcoming game. Nevertheless, Brown should be back in the fold in time to see game action before the regular season ends.
DECEMBER 12: Marquise Brown has been cleared to practice, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, positioning the star wideout to get back on the field for the Chiefs after shoulder surgery on his SC joint in September put his season in doubt.
Reports of Brown’s potential to return this year initially emerged in November and intensified last week after the 27-year-old scheduled an appointment with his surgeon to receive final clearance to play. The appointment went well, according to Rapoport, setting up Brown to practice with his teammates for the first time in months.
Kansas City will still be cautious with Brown, who has dealt with several injuries in his football career dating back to his college days at Oklahoma. The team is expected to open Brown’s practice window on Friday or the following Monday. He will have 21 days to ramp up as the Chiefs figure out if he can contribute this season.
Brown’s return could be a massive boost for a Chiefs offense that ranks outside of the top six in passing yards for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era. However, Brown is not guaranteed to have a major impact, as he has yet to play a single regular-season snap in Kansas City. He signed a one-year, $7MM contract this offseason, but injured his shoulder in mid-August, minimizing his practice time in a new offense.
Even if Brown is able to play again this year, he won’t be asked to shoulder an especially heavy snap count or playmaking role. Trade deadline acquisition DeAndre Hopkins has settled in well in Kansas City, and first-round pick Xavier Worthy has topped 40 yards in each of his last four weeks after doing so just twice over his first nine games. Putting Brown and Worthy on the field together would give Mahomes one of the fastest receiver tandems in the NFL, which could potentially open up more room for Hopkins and Travis Kelce to operate over the middle.