Chiefs Speedster Hollywood Brown Catches Five Passes In His 2024 Debut

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown makes a catch for a first down in the ... [+] first quarter against the Houston Texans on Dec. 21, 2024. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

During their first offensive possession in their 27-19 victory, the Kansas City Chiefs faced a crucial 4th and 1.

Then, Marquise "Hollywood" Brown caught a crossing route for 12 yards. It was not only his first of his two first-down conversions against the Houston Texans, but it was also his first reception since joining the Chiefs.

"It was good to get Hollywood back in the mix," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said.

In an effort to get back to their once-explosive downfield passing game, the Chiefs signed Brown to a one-year, $7 million contract during the offseason and had great expectations.

But Brown suffered a sternoclavicular injury, which required shoulder surgery, after catching a pass on the first play of the Chiefs' first preseason game Aug. 10.

In his first regular-season game this year, following a stint on injured reserve, Brown had five catches for 45 yards.

"He did a great job," Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. "We'll get him involved more and more as the season goes on."

Brown's longest play came on the Chiefs' first possession of the second quarter. On that 3rd-and-7 play, he lined up in a bunch formation for the 20-yard catch.

On a 2nd and 9 of that same drive, he caught a six-yard pass.

Two plays later Mahomes rolled out and just missed Brown on what could've been a long reception. Though it was an incompletion, it more importantly showed how well Mahomes' ankle held up despite injuring it last weekend.

Mahomes was even the Chiefs' second-leading rusher on the game, recording 33 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown run for the game's first score.

"Pat's a warrior," said wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Hopkins, who still lives in Houston, had four catches for 37 yards against the team that drafted him in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Hopkins' next team was the Arizona Cardinals, and Hopkins played there with Brown in 2022. They've now been reunited in Kansas City.

Brown also had two more catches in the fourth quarter. He had a three-yard reception two plays before Harrison Butker kicked a 27-yard field goal. On the Chiefs' final drive of the game, Brown went in motion on a 2nd and 8 before catching a pass for four yards.

He was targeted two other times in the second half.

"I missed him here and there on a couple throws," Mahomes said. "He was getting open, just winning against man coverage."

Brown had practiced well since returning from injured reserve. Because it was a shoulder injury, he was able to do cardio and stay in shape during much of the recovery process.

"He's one of those real good endurance guys anyways," Reid said. "But he's been working his legs throughout."

Reid called Saturday's victory the Chiefs' best all-around game as Kansas City improved to an NFL-best 14-1 record while going undefeated at home during the regular season.

Reid also said it was Xavier Worthy's best game. The rookie wide receiver had seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown and three rushes for 10 yards.

That is in part because of the rookie's continued growth, but having another speedster like Brown to stretch the field and further stress the defense helps too.

"It was amazing to have him back," Worthy said. "It just opens up a lot more."