Even the best plans, whether for mice or Super Bowl champions, can fall apart.
After Kansas City faced receiver issues in 2023, they entered the offseason determined to revitalize their offense, reminiscent of the Tyreek Hill era. General manager Brett Veach signed Hollywood Brown and moved up in the draft to select speedster Xavier Worthy.
The strategy seemed clear: Worthy would stretch the field, Brown would work the middle, Rashee Rice would be a threat on short routes, and Travis Kelce would continue dominating defenses. However, a month into the season, this plan has been derailed.
Brown suffered a preseason shoulder injury requiring surgery, likely keeping him out for months. Despite some passing struggles, the Chiefs started strong, remaining undefeated. Then, running back Isiah Pacheco went down in Week 2, landing on injured reserve, followed by Rice suffering a knee injury, potentially a torn ACL, in Week 4.
The double injury blow has left a massive gap in the Chiefs’ roster. Rice, despite not catching a pass in Week 4, still leads the team with 288 receiving yards. Now, the receiving corps consists of rookie Worthy, Justin Watson, a declining JuJu Smith-Schuster, Skyy Moore, and Mecole Hardman, with Kelce as the primary weapon.
Though Mahomes remains at the helm, the offense needs reinforcements. As the Nov. 5 trade deadline approaches, Kansas City will likely explore trade options to bolster their receiver group, with potential targets ranging from big names like DeAndre Hopkins and Davante Adams to more modest additions like Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen, or even Robert Woods. Each option presents a different level of impact, but with injuries piling up, the Chiefs may have no choice but to seek external help.
