The Kansas City Chiefs can ill-afford to lose any wide receivers going into Week 1, so it concerning to hear that one of their playmakers at the position has been ruled out for the upcoming contest against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Chiefs revealed on Wednesday morning that rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals has been ruled out for the contest in Brazil. Royals is dealing with a knee injury and won't be traveling with the team.
"Jalen Royals will not travel with the team. He is ruled OUT for Friday night’s game," the Chiefs said on X.
The good news for Kansas City is that wide receiver Marquise Brown, who was on the injury report with an ankle issue, was able to practice in full this week and is ready to play against the Chargers.
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft, Royals is expected to get some run early this season thanks to the suspension to wide receiver Rashee Rice, who will miss the first six games.
Royals, who managed to stand out during the offseason, is listed as the top backup to Brown on the Chiefs' first depth chart of the season.
“(Jalen Royals) looks like he’s a sharp kid. He works hard,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said of the rookie earlier this offseason. “He’s strong. A little bit like Rashee (Rice) that way. He’s got a little bit more beef to him. Thick lower body.
"But again, strong and he picks stuff up. He doesn’t say a whole lot. He’s very, very quiet. But he picks things up and does a nice job with it," Reid added.
With Royals and Rice out, the Chiefs will need more out JuJu Smith-Schuster at wide receiver. Brown and Xavier Worthy should operate as the No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.
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