After dealing with early-season injuries to key players Isiah Pacheco and Rashee Rice, the Kansas City Chiefs finally received some positive news on the injury front on Friday.
Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster returned to practice on Friday after being listed on the team’s injury report on Thursday due to a hamstring issue. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid indicated that Smith-Schuster is expected to play on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, despite his early departure from Thursday’s practice.
Reid mentioned that Smith-Schuster will still be listed as questionable on the injury report as a precaution in case of any setbacks. Smith-Schuster was seen participating fully in practice on Friday, running routes without limitations.
Smith-Schuster is currently in his second stint with the Chiefs, having previously played for the team in 2022, where he helped secure a Super Bowl victory against the Philadelphia Eagles. During that championship game, he made seven catches for 53 yards, second only to Travis Kelce in receiving yards.
Before his time in Kansas City, Smith-Schuster spent his first five NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and also played a stint with the New England Patriots.
Currently, Rashee Rice leads the Chiefs in receiving yards, with both Kelce and Xavier Worthy also surpassing Smith-Schuster’s 147 yards for the season. The Chiefs’ receiving unit remains a point of concern as they aim for the first Super Bowl three-peat in the modern era.
