Chiefs Ready For Justin Watson To 'Step Up' In Marquise Brown's Absence

The Kansas City Chiefs' offensive weaponry has taken a hit with Marquise Brown out for the foreseeable future with a shoulder injury picked up against the Jacksonville Jaguars. But in the NFL, it's always the next player up, and that might just be Justin Watson .

The six-year veteran is coming off his best year as a pro in 2023, totaling 460 yards and three touchdowns from 27 receptions, and now he could be used far more by Andy Reid over the next couple of weeks.

And offensive coordinator Matt Nagy suggested as much this week.

"I think right now for where he's at, probably Justin Watson coming in (and) knowing the role," Nagy said . "(It's not) necessarily step up, I don't know if I would use that word more than anything. It's different because there are different guys in for different series and different quarters. If you have an opportunity, no matter who you are, where you're at, whatever role you're in, you're trying to make this team."

So Watson will be getting more offensive snaps in Brown's absence, and the veteran will be looking to put his best foot forward as the Chiefs look to get off to a good start in 2024.

With the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals up first on the schedule for the defending champs, there is already little margin for error in the AFC.

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Luckily for the Chiefs, Watson, now entering year three in Kansas City, knows Reid's system and how Patrick Mahomes likes things done. So, while he doesn't possess the speed that Brown does, there is a level of comfort for the receiver in what he will be asked to do.

Yes, the Chiefs, in an ideal world, would have Brown at their disposal, but in Watson, they have a player who is more than capable of stepping in and performing a role.

And that's exactly what is going to be asked of him.