![[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Sep 5, 2025; Sao Paulo, BRAZIL; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) looks on against the Los Angeles Chargers in the second half during a NFL game at Corinthians Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amanda Perobelli/Reuters via Imagn Images](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_127,w_3310,h_1861/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/220/01k4t3ch70fenx2mb4xb.jpg "[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Sep 5, 2025; Sao Paulo, BRAZIL; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) looks on against the Los Angeles Chargers in the second half during a NFL game at Corinthians Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amanda Perobelli/Reuters via Imagn Images")
The Kansas City Chiefs suffered a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday night, but the toll was more than just the 27-21 tally on the scoreboard. It also included the loss of Xavier Worthy to a dislocated shoulder.
Worthy was injured in the first quarter of Friday’s loss when he ran into his teammate Travis Kelce on a passing play. The play was designed for Worthy to run up field while Kelce ran a crossing route but the two players collided with Worthy heading to the sideline seeking medical attention.
While the Chiefs initially ruled Worthy as questionable, he missed the rest of Friday’s game and his status is in question for a Week 2 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. With Worthy’s injury clouded in mystery, Kelce broke his silence on the latest episode of the New Heights podcast and fully owned up to the role he played in the injury.
Travis Kelce Admits Bad Route Injured Xavier Worthy
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Kelce shouldered the blame for the play citing his inability to run the correct route. While Worthy was in the place he was supposed to be and a target for the Patrick Mahomes pass that fell incomplete, Kelce showed remorse and admitted he needs to be sharper going forward.
“I’m supposed to be running my route at depth for Worthy. So it’s frustrating for me,” Kelce said. “I was trying to kind of set up my guy to be able to get into position, and it all just happened pretty quick. I just gotta be better, man. I’m 13 years in the league. There is no excuse for me running into my own guys like that.”
The mishap was a lowlight in what was a tough night for Kelce. The 35-year-old did have a 37-yard touchdown reception from Mahomes in the fourth quarter, but it was just one of two catches on the evening as he finished with 47 total receiving yards. It also comes on the heels of a disappointing season where Kelce caught 97 passes but had his lowest yardage total (823) since 2015 and a career-low three touchdowns.
Kelce’s age pales in comparison to the Chiefs’ short-term issues which now include potentially being without an explosive target for Sunday’s Super Bowl rematch. Kansas City is already down top receiver Rashee Rice, who is serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy and will start Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton if Worthy is unable to go on Sunday afternoon.
Whatever Worthy’s status is, Kelce admitted he needs to be sharper going forward, which may be a similar message to the Chiefs as they look to avoid an 0-2 start.