MNF in Mexico City not out of the question for WR Hollywood Brown

TEMPE — As Lloyd Christmas so eloquently put it, “So you’re telling me there’s chance?”

That’s the sentiment around the Arizona Cardinals training facility on Wednesday with Hollywood Brown’s surprise designation to return from injured reserve. And let’s just say the wide receiver has way better odds than Mr. Christmas.

Now, the move doesn’t mean Brown (foot) will suit up for the team’s Monday Night Football tilt against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11, but there’s a legit shot he gets activated ahead of the matchup.

It all depends on what head coach Kliff Kingsbury and his staff see out of the wideout over the next few days of practice.

“There’s a chance (Brown could play this week),” Kingsbury said Wednesday. “We just walked through today, so we want to see him out there (Thursday) and see what he looks like, but he’s definitely come a long way in a short time. I’m hoping we can get something out of him, but I don’t know until I see him running around full speed with pads on (Thursday).”

And while nothing is official as to whether Brown will play or not — Kingsbury said there was a possibility he could be out until after the bye week — the wideout sounded optimistic his return is right around the corner.

“I’m a man of faith,” Brown said Wednesday. “I told them when I was hurt and they put me on IR that I’d be back in four weeks. It’s God’s plan. Just excited to be where I am right now.

“I’m just taking it one day at a time,” he added. “However I’m feeling each day is how we’re going to take it and approach it moving forward.”

Although Brown is chomping at the bit to return to action, he does not want to rush the process. Not only does he have to get back into football shape, Brown has to get re-acclimated to everything the offense is doing on the field. Diving into the playbook only helps so much this far into the season.

This isn’t the same offense Brown left when he went down with the injury in Week 6, as No. 1 option DeAndre Hopkins is now available and healthy.

It’ll mark the first time Hopkins and Brown have taken the field together since the latter joined the team this past offseason via a draft day trade.

The timing couldn’t be better, with another top receiving option in starting tight end Zach Ertz done for the season due to knee injury suffered last week against the Los Angeles Rams.

“When I got traded here, I was like, ‘I really want to see what it looks like.’ I know what I’m capable of, so I’m excited,” Brown said of working alongside Hopkins on Wednesday.

“If they’re both on the field, it’s dangerous,” quarterback Kyler Murray added. “Along with (Rondale Moore), (Robbie Anderson), (A.J. Green), (James Conner) and (Greg Dortch), the weapons are endless. It’s just about executing and staying on schedule.”

Related

WR Hollywood Brown designated to return by CardinalsEno Benjamin's release spotlights pattern with Arizona CardinalsCardinals' patchwork O-line rises to occasion vs. Aaron Donald, RamsReport: Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz out for season with knee injuryFormer Cardinals RB Eno Benjamin claimed by TexansThe Cardinals’ CB1 of the future is already on the roster