2 Long-Lost Chiefs Pass-Catchers Return to Practice Ahead of Preseason Finale

The Kansas City Chiefs are getting healthier at wide receiver and tight end, as there were notable injury updates on veteran WR Hollywood Brown and rookie TE Jake Briningstool on August 18.

Beginning with the former, head coach Andy Reid revealed that Brown (right ankle/foot) returned to practice on Sunday, August 17, ahead of preseason Week 3.

“So, Hollywood did a little work yesterday, which was good,” the Chiefs HC shared on Monday morning. “He’ll get a little bit more today [on August 18]. And then we’ll just see.”

“We’ll see how he progresses through this thing,” Reid continued. “It’s not a matter of wanting to be out there. He wants to do it. He’s just taking it slow; we don’t want any setbacks with this [injury] going forward.”

Brown has been sidelined since July 29 with a foot/ankle injury that was initially deemed to be minor.

“Sources: Chiefs WR Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown, who left practice on a cart with a lower leg injury, avoided anything serious and is expected to be back on the field as early as tomorrow,” FOX Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported on July 29.

Obviously, that didn’t end up being the case, as Brown has now missed just about three weeks of team activities.

KSHB 41 reporter Matt Foster posted a collection of clips of Brown going through practice drills on Monday, noting that the veteran playmaker was “moving pretty well coming off that ankle/foot injury.”

It’s unclear if Brown will suit up for the preseason finale, as the starters are expected to play.

Jake Briningstool Returns to Practice Before Chiefs’ Preseason Finale

The other long-lost injury return on August 18 was Briningstool. The undrafted rookie was the talk of Kansas City heading into training camp, as he was one of the clear standouts of OTAs.

He even stayed hot straight out of the gates at training camp, climbing the depth chart alongside fellow rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals.

Unfortunately, on July 27, everything changed for Briningstool as he aggravated a hamstring injury. The rookie has been missing in action ever since, losing precious time as he attempts to do the unlikely and make a championship contender’s 53-man roster as a UDFA.

On August 18, Foster reported that “Chiefs rookie TE Jake Briningstool returned to the practice field this afternoon as well.” He also shared video evidence of Briningstool at practice, similar to Brown.

“First time we’ve seen him practicing since suffering a hamstring strain toward the end of week one of training camp,” the KSHB 41 reporter reminded.

Briningstool is probably looking at a practice squad role at this stage, assuming no other team claims him off waivers. In his absence, veteran tight end Robert Tonyan has been tremendous, and it’s hard to see the rookie making the Week 1 roster after his emergence.

Chiefs’ Hollywood Brown Injury Update Is Crucial With Rashee Rice Situation Looming Over the Early Weeks of the Season

The Chiefs may not be without Rashee Rice for the first few weeks of the season after all, as his hearing date with the NFL was scheduled for late September. But there have been rumblings that this fluid situation could change at any time if both sides agree on a suspension settlement/compromise before Week 1.

That puts the Chiefs in a very uncertain place, as they may need a wide receiver like Brown just in case Rice is suspended last minute.

For that reason, Brown’s return to practice should not be overlooked. Even if the veteran sits out the Chiefs’ preseason finale out of precaution, he appears to be on track for Week 1, barring some sort of setback.