Will KC Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster play Sunday at 49ers? Reid weighs in

The Chiefs’ already thin corps of wide receivers apparently dodged additional trouble this week, with JuJu Smith-Schuster expected to play Sunday at the San Francisco 49ers.

Eyebrows were raised when Smith-Schuster showed up on Thursday’s injury report as a limited practice participant because of a hamstring injury.

On Friday, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Smith-Schuster had a “hamstring spasm” Thursday and is thus listed as questionable for Sunday’s NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

But ...

“I think he’ll be fine,” Reid said. “He did good today. We’ll see how he does (Saturday).”

Smith-Schuster has an increasingly important role on a team that has already lost two receivers, likely for the remainder of the regular season. One, offseason acquisition Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, was injured during the preseason. Then, Rashee Rice, who became the team’s top receiver last year, suffered a knee injury in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

That leaves Smith-Schuster has the most experienced and accomplished of a group that also includes rookie Xavier Worthy and veterans Justin Watson, Mecole Hardman and Skyy Moore.

In his most extensive playing time game this season, Smith-Schuster caught seven passes in eight targets for 130 yards in the Chiefs’ victory over the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 7.

Smith-Schuster spent his first five NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, turning in a Pro Bowl year in 2018, when he caught 111 passes.

In his first year with Kansas City, during the 2022 season, Smith-Schuster was the team’s most productive wide receiver with 78 receptions. He caught a team-high seven passes in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Smith-Schuster played last season with the New England Patriots before re-signing with the Chiefs on a one-year contract in late August.

The week’s final Chiefs-49ers injury report also lists KC defensive end Mike Danna as out with a pectoral strain.