Kansas City Chiefs fans have been asking themselves the same question throughout most of the 2025 NFL season: Is this the week when Jalen Royals will finally see some action? Despite general manager Brett Veach using a fourth-round pick on him in April, Royals has yet to see a single target in the 43 offensive snaps he's seen in his six appearances.
Rookies sometimes struggle to crack head coach Andy Reid's lineup, but that doesn't take away from how frustrating Royals' rookie season has been. That's even more so the case, given the Chiefs' constant struggles in their wide receiver room this season, making it even more confusing why the first-year pro has seen limited opportunities.
Interestingly enough, the rookie WR's time might finally arrive in Week 18. On Friday, Reid told A to Z Sports' Charles Goldeman that fellow wideout Xavier Worthy might not play this weekend due to an illness that held him out of the latest practice, leaving his availability up in the air, listing him as doubtful.
Of course, no one wants to see a player miss action because of an illness, especially at this time of the year. At the same time, Worthy potentially missing Sunday's clash against the Las Vegas Raiders might open the door for the Chiefs to finally unleash Royals.
Chiefs' Spotlight Is Back on Jalen Royals After Xavier Worthy Injury News
Worthy hasn't been having the best second year in the NFL, but a potential absence would force the Chiefs to spread around his workload. The former 2024 first-rounder sees 5.2 targets and 46.1 offensive snaps per game, and if those opportunities transfer over to Royals, it might be enough for him to force his way into Kansas City's WR plans for the 2026 season.
With how abysmal and inconsistent the Chiefs' wideouts have been in recent years, fans hope that drafting Royals would help solve those problems. The former Utah State playmaker demonstrated plenty of potential in his final two years with the Aggies, racking up 126 catches for 1,914 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns in 20 games — including when he paced the Mountain West Conference with 15 scores in 2023.
Impressively, Royals was averaging a whopping 119.1 yards per game in 2024 before a foot injury forced him out of Utah State's final five games. Given how dominant he looked that year, playing a big role in his fourth-round selection, it's easy to see why Chiefs fans have desperately pleaded for Reid & Co. to give Royals a legitimate shot.
Although the coaches might be hesitant to throw a rookie into the spotlight, there's nothing to lose this weekend. The Chiefs will miss the playoffs for the first time in a long time, making Week 18 the perfect time to assess what they have in Royals. If he can pop off against Las Vegas, Kansas City will have a better idea of what to do at wideout this offseason, as Royals, Worthy, and Rashee Rice are the only WRs under contract in 2026, per Spotrac.
Raiders Are the Perfect Opponent for Jalen Royals
Besides, a matchup against the Raiders could help Royals head into the NFL offseason with a ton of confidence and momentum. Las Vegas has allowed the fourth-most receptions (203) and 10th-most receiving yards (2,422) to wideouts this season, all while being tied for the ninth-most TDs to the position. Regardless of who's under center for K.C., that's a juicy matchup that can't be ignored.
After a rollercoaster rookie season, the Chiefs can finally give Royals some clarity about his future in Week 18. He needs to be thrown into the fire after being yo-yo'd all year. If it works out and he proves himself, great. If not, and he struggles, GM Veach has a better idea of the help he needs to get this offseason.
Either way, the Chiefs won't know what they have in Royals unless they finally let him loose this weekend.