The Chiefs are without two wide receivers to start the season

THE Kansas City Chiefs have been handed a massive injury blow just days before the NFL season.

Patrick Mahomes will already be without Rashee Rice to start the 2025 NFL season, but now he will now be missing another wide receiver.

Patrick Mahomes has lost another weapon ahead of the NFL seasonCredit: Reuters

Rookie receiver Jalen Royals will not play in the Chiefs’ opening game of the seasonCredit: Getty
Rookie receiver Jalen Royals has been ruled out of the Chiefs’ Friday night game in Brazil.

Royals did not travel with the team after his injury was revealed.

The rookie is currently dealing with tendinitis in his knee.

Kansas City drafted Royals with a fourth-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
he played for Utah State in college, and has been held out of practices this week.Royals didn’t participate on Tuesday, and the Chiefs did not hold practice on Wednesday in order to travel to Brazil.

He was set to see an expanded role early this season with Rice suspended the first six games.

The Chiefs planned to use him as WR3 until Rice returned, and he had impressed his coaches during the preseason.

“[Royals] looks like he’s a sharp kid. He works hard,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said.

“He’s strong. A little bit like Rashee [Rice] that way. He’s got a little bit more beef to him. Thick lower body.
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“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.”

With both Rice and Royals out for the opening game, the Chiefs’ starting wide receivers will likely be Xavier Worthy, Juju Smith-Schuster, and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.

Chiefs fans were devastated to hear of Royals’ injury, and shared their thoughts on social media.

“NOOOOO,” one fan said.

“Well he will play next game hopefully,” another fan said.

“Tough break for Royals!” a third fan said.

“Huge loss,” a fourth fan said.
“Get healthy for next week G,” a fifth fan said.The Chiefs face off against the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil at 8:00 pm ET.