The Chiefs, already short-handed at the wide receiver position due to Rashee Rice’s six-game suspension, are now expected to be without Xavier Worthy for an undetermined amount of time, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link). Worthy collided with teammate Travis Kelce during Kansas City’s Week 1 loss to the Chargers on Friday, and he sustained a dislocated shoulder as a result.
Worthy will obtain a second opinion on the matter, and Rapoport says the most likely scenario is that the second-year pro will be able to return this season and play with a brace. That said, surgery is still an option as of the time of this writing.
The 28th overall pick of the 2024 draft, Worthy set a scouting combine record for the fastest 40-yard dash in the history of the event, though that speed did not translate to massive yards-per-reception numbers in his first NFL regular season. Worthy was targeted 98 times last year, and he hauled in 59 catches for 638 yards and six touchdowns.
He did, however, add 20 carries for 104 yards and three more scores, and he elevated his game in the postseason. In three playoff games, Worthy caught 19 of his 21 targets, tallying 287 yards and three TDs. That led to heightened expectations for the 2025 slate, especially in the wake of Rice’s early-season ban.
Unfortunately, those expectations will be put on hold for the time being. The Chiefs still have Hollywood Brown as a big-play threat, and Brown and fellow veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster combined to catch 15 passes for 154 yards in the Los Angeles game.
Meanwhile, fourth-round rookie Jalen Royals missed the regular season opener due to a knee injury, so the Chiefs are certainly feeling the pinch when it comes to their WR depth chart. Although Rapoport does not say so, it is fair to wonder if the team will look to fortify the group with a free agent signing.
At present, Tyler Boyd and Nelson Agholor represent two of the most accomplished names on the list of FA wideouts.