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NFL teams want to accomplish a few things during the preseason - mainly seeing players on the roster bubble's performances and getting reps for their younger players. But more than anything, teams just don't want to see any players get injured.
That's the case going into any game throughout a season, but losing an important player before the regular season gets underway can be a crushing blow, especially to team morale. On Saturday, both teams from February's Super Bowl saw a key starter go down with somewhat serious injuries.
Marquise Brown dislocates collarbone in preseason Week 1
First, the Kansas City Chiefs witnessed newly signed wide receiver Marquise Brown leave the game after just the first offensive play he was in on. Reports have since emerged that Brown had to be evaluated at a hospital and was diagnosed with a sternoclavicular dislocation; meaning his collarbone went into his sternum.
While it isn't a season-ending injury, Brown is set to miss a good chunk of time. In worst case scenarios, it could be as much as an eight-week recovery, which would have him out until Week 5. That missed time is needed in order to build chemistry between him and Patrick Mahomes.
Ambry Thomas breaks forearm in first game of preseason
The Chiefs' opponent in the last Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers, also saw a starter exit a game on Saturday. Cornerback Ambry Thomas was carted to the locker room at halftime, and it was later revealed that he suffered a broken forearm.
Thomas played the fourth-most snaps of Niners cornerbacks last season, but he came into 2024 expected to be a starter opposite Charvarius Ward. Head coach Kyle Shanahan could only say that "it will be some time" before we see Thomas back on the field. He's likely to be out until around mid-season, maybe longer if it was very severe.