With less than two weeks until the Chiefs begin their quest for a third straight championship, they’ll be adding a familiar weapon for Patrick Mahomes.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, who was part of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory over the Eagles in 2023, will re-sign with Kansas City. According to NFL NetworkHe was released by the Patriots earlier this month.
The 27-year-old signed a three-year, $25.5 million contract with New England after winning his first career championship, but he was plagued by a terrible offensive line in Bill Belichick’s final year as coach, finishing with just 29 catches for 260 yards and one touchdown in 11 games.
Smith-Schuster has been plagued by knee injuries, and Belichick’s successor, Jerrod Mayo, said the knee injury was one of the reasons the team released him, but also because they wanted to give their younger receivers more opportunities.
“We just want him to be healthy,” Mayo said on Aug. 11. “He’s still got some good ball left in him. We just wish him the best.”
Smith-Schuster joins a crowded receiver corps that includes Rushe Rice, rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Super Bowl hero Mecole Hardman, Justin Watson, Skye Moore and former Giants first-round pick Kadarius Toney, who could be cut before Tuesday’s 53-man roster deadline.
And, of course, all of those receivers will be competing for targets behind star tight end Travis Kelce.
The Chiefs also Preparing for possible Rice suspensionwas arrested for his alleged involvement in a motor vehicle accident and charged with assault on an individual this offseason.
Smith-Schuster had 78 catches for 933 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games with the Chiefs in the 2022 season, then added 10 catches for 89 yards in three playoff games.
A second-round pick by the Steelers in 2017, Smith-Schuster spent five seasons with Pittsburgh and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2018 after recording 111 catches for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns.
He rushed for 3,855 yards and 26 touchdowns in five years with the Steelers.
