Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes swears big things are in store for wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. He just has to be patient.
Through two games, Smith-Schuster has caught nine passes for 89 yards and has yet to score a touchdown. However, Smith-Schuster is just happy to be a Chief.
“I’m blessed and fortunate to be on a really good team,” Smith-Schuster said Wednesday as the team ramped up preparation for Sunday’s road game against the Indianapolis Colts.
In Week 1 at Arizona, Smith-Schuster caught six passes for 79 yards. Against the Chargers in Week 2, he caught just three passes for 10 yards as Mahomes completed passes to nine different receivers.
Smith-Schuster, however, is embracing the team concept of doing whatever is asked of him and he’s glad the offense has so many different weapons.
“We talk about this all the time,” Smith-Schuster said. “Anybody can get the ball, anybody can make the play. No matter who is in that position, just know that when your number is called, make the play.
“As for myself, I see myself being the guy that wherever they need me at, I’m there to be that guy. Inside, outside, wherever they need me. If they need me to block, I’ll come block. If they need me to do this or that, I’m an all-around guy.”
This season only Travis Kelce (13) has more catches on the team than Smith-Schuster, and Mahomes said the sixth-year veteran wide receiver is working to get better each day.
“The attitude that he brings every day is huge,” Mahomes said. “He’s going to be a great player with a lot of yards and a lot of touchdowns and everything like that. But the way he’s able to be a leader in that receiver room as someone who’s new to a team. I think it’s going to keep making this offense and this team even better because you have guys that come to work every single day. And he puts in that work. And he’ll get more and more opportunities as the season goes on.”
While the Chiefs are 2-0, the Colts (0-1-1) are still looking for their first win of the season as they tied the Texans in Week 1 and lost last week to Jacksonville. After the Colts, the Chiefs will travel to Tampa Bay to play Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, but Smith-Schuster isn’t looking that far ahead just yet.
“I take it week by week, and I focus on this week alone,” Smith-Schuster said. “And the Colts and Indy is on our schedule for this week, and once we get past them then we’re on to the next.”
BUTKER STILL OUT
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker didn’t practice Thursday as he continues to get treatment on a sprained ankle he suffered while kicking off against the Cardinals. Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub said Butker is “doing everything he can to get back.”
If Butker can’t play Sunday, the Chiefs again will go with Matt Ammendola. He made both field goal attempts and all three extra points last week against the Chargers.
