The time is approaching when a number of long-term injuries for the Kansas City Chiefs will heal. While it is frustrating to play without them, the truth is that the team will also feel the injection of new energy when a few key players return from injury in the second half of the season.

The Chiefs got wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster back in Week 11 after he missed nearly a month with a hamstring injury. More players could return once the team plays the Carolina Panthers in Week 12. More importantly, head coach Andy Reid had some good news about another wide receiver who was initially thought to be out for the year.

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown was signed to a one-year deal this offseason to provide a WR1 alongside Xavier Worthy in an overhaul of the Chiefs’ wide receiver room. Brown played the role in minicamp and training camp throughout the spring and summer as a veteran leader who developed a quick bond with Patrick Mahomes during practices.

Unfortunately, Brown was sidelined on his very first catch of the preseason when he suffered a sternoclavicular injury during the team’s opening game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. After initial reports had him out for a few weeks, the Chiefs eventually placed him on injured reserve and from there it was assumed he would be out for a year.

In recent weeks, the idea has surfaced that Brown could return in ’24 and it’s possible he could even be back before the end of the regular season. There’s no timeline, but Brown himself even made a cryptic post that insinuated as much.

On Wednesday, Reid met with the media and was asked what he saw in Brown’s progress following his injury. “(He) is making very good progress. I can’t tell you a time when he’ll be back, but he’s another guy who’s excited to get back out here and get started. I appreciate the way he approached this whole thing. “

Brown had 51 catches for 574 yards and 4 scores for the Arizona Cardinals last year. He has 28 touchdown receptions in five seasons in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens and Cardinals.

Reid also had good news about the health of the current active roster, saying everyone was able to fully participate in training. That bodes well for the return sooner or later of both running back Isiah Pacheco and pass rusher Charles Omenihu.

“Yes, we’ll see with those two: Charles and (Pacheco). We’ll go through training a little bit and see where they are this week and go from there. You just have to see. It’s one of day bye,” Reid said.

Pacheco has been out since Week 2 with a broken fibula, while Omenihu is rehabbing a torn ACL dating back to last season.