Patrick Mahomes could get the perfect gift for Christmas with the return of Hollywood Brown as the Kansas City Chiefs‘ wide receiver is set to return to action before the start of the 2024/25 NFL Playoffs.

The Chiefs‘ 12-1 record has already seen them qualify for the postseason and become the AFC West champions as they look to retain their status as Super Bowl winners for the third consecutive season.

And it’s been a very challenging season, despite the record. Injuries to Rashee Rice, Isiah Pacheco, Mecole Hardman and Brown, as well as the inconsistent Travis Kelce, means the defending champs only have 308 points on the board, an average of 23.6 per game.

It means they have found themselves in 10 one-score games that means their season has spent much of the year hanging on the edge of a cliff, with the risk of a catastrophic loss of form always beckoning.

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Regardless, they have managed to keep winning and now they seem set to grow even stronger with the return of Brown, who could be cleared to play for their Week 16 clash with the AFC East’s Pittsburgh Steelers.

“He’s getting close,” Reid said about Brown to reporters. “He’s chomping at the bit to get back out there, but he’s got to visit with the doctor to make sure he gets clearance there.”

Hollywood joined the Chiefs from the Baltimore Ravens in the offseason but was instantly struck down with a shoulder injury before he even hit the field for his debut at the Arrowhead Stadium.

His side then moved to acquire DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans, who has made 30 receptions for 357 yards and four touchdowns so Brown could find himself working his way back into the team slowly.

Who do the Chiefs play next?

For now, the Chiefs will need to navigate without the 27-year-old Brown for Week 14 when they take on the lowly Cleveland Browns at the Huntington Bank Field in Ohio.

The game will take place on Sunday, December 15 at 13:00 ET/10:00 PT and will be broadcast by CBS Sports.