Chiefs' Hollywood Brown placed on IR in anticipation of surgery to fix SC joint

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown will undergo surgery to repair a dislocated SC joint sustained during the preseason opener against Jacksonville last month. Consequently, he will be placed on injured reserve.

Initially, it was believed that Brown would not require surgery and would miss only a few regular season games at most. However, doctors later determined that the injury was not healing properly, necessitating surgical intervention. Dr. Peter Millett will perform the procedure in Vail, Colorado.

Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated reports that the Chiefs anticipate Brown will be absent for the majority of the regular season.

Hollywood Brown injury's impact to the Chiefs roster

The Chiefs made significant efforts to bolster their wide receiver corps in the offseason, with Brown being a key acquisition. He signed a one-year contract with the team after two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, where he amassed 118 receptions, 1,283 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns in 26 games.

This development is a substantial setback to the team's plans for the season. Brown was expected to be a primary deep threat alongside rookie Xavier Worthy, who is now likely to see an increased workload.

Additionally, recent signee JuJu Smith-Schuster is expected to play a more prominent role than initially anticipated. This raises questions about whether the team signed Smith-Schuster in anticipation of a possible extended absence for Brown. If so, another significant roster move is unlikely. However, if not, the Chiefs may be active in the wide receiver market leading up to the Nov. 5 trade deadline.

Short-term roster implications for the Chiefs

As of this writing, a corresponding roster move has not been announced. In the immediate future, expect a player to be elevated from the practice squad, potentially wide receivers Justyn Ross or Nikko Remigio. Given that the Chiefs already have six other receivers on the active roster, they may opt to sign a player at another position, such as running back or defensive line.

The team should have a clearer understanding of Brown's potential return date in the coming weeks, which will inform their roster decisions moving forward.