Chiefs recharged offense looks to get its ‘mojo’ back
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- As they prepare for the upcoming season, the vast majority of the Kansas City Chiefs' pass-catching nuclei return, healthy and refreshed. This comes on the heels of a season that saw Patrick Mahomes and company go through a long game of wide receiver roulette due to an onslaught of injuries.
Last year's big offseason addition, Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, was nursing a dislocated shoulder he sustained right before the season. The injury delayed his Chiefs' debut until week 16 in December against the Houston Texans.
Rashee Rice's promising sophomore season that saw him catch 24 passes for 288 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 4-game span was derailed by a knee injury caused by an accidental collision with Mahomes.
Second-year man Xavier Worthy was the only Chiefs receiver to miss less than one game last season. Worthy lived up to the hype of being an instant downfield weapon for Kansas City, racking up 925 yards and 9 touchdowns off of 78 receptions in the regular season and postseason combined.
Despite the injuries, Kansas City was able to finish with a 15-2 record, secure the No.1 seed in the AFC Playoffs and appear in a third-consecutive Super Bowl. However, the result was an average offense compared to previous seasons.
The Chiefs ranked 14th in passing (222.4 yards per game), 16th in total yards (327.6 yards per game) and 15th in points per game (22.6).
Heading into the new season, Kansas City will be bringing back the three receivers mentioned above, along with Juju Smith-Schuster, Nikko Remigio, Tyquan Thornton, Skyy Moore and rookie Jalen Royals.
The surplus of receivers paired with star tight end Travis Kelce returning for his 13th season figures to help the Chiefs mirror the success of their 2022 offense. That season saw the Chiefs rank 1st in passing (308.8 yards per game), 1st in total yards (424.7 yards per game) and 1st in points per game (29.2).
The 2022 season was also the last time Mahomes secured the honor of being named the league's Most Valuable Player.
