The Kansas City Chiefs will need all hands on deck to climb out of an 0-2 start to the season and it has created some anxiousness around receiver Xavier Worthy.
Worthy was injured in the season opener when a collision with Travis Kelce resulted in a dislocated shoulder. While he was able to avoid a more serious injury like a broken collarbone, he wasn’t able to play in the Week 2 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, depriving Kansas City of one its top receiving weapons.
With the exception of a missed game, things have been trending in the right direction. And the Chiefs got more good news when head coach Andy Reid announced that Worthy will be practicing with "no limitations" to begin the week, via Harold R. Kuntz of FOX 4 in Kansas City.
Xavier Worthy’s Return Could Be the Spark Chiefs Offense Needs vs. Giants
When Worthy returns to the lineup, it will be a welcome addition. The Chiefs’ first-round pick in the 2024 draft had a successful rookie season, catching 59 passes for 638 yards and six touchdowns and caught a 50-yard touchdown from Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl loss to Philadelphia last February.
The long TD had the hype train full steam ahead going into this season but the Chiefs needed Worthy to realize that potential when Rashee Rice was suspended for six games after violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The absence of Rice and injured rookie Jalen Royals, put the normally explosive Chiefs offense at a standstill against the Eagles in Week 2 as Kansas City managed just 173 passing yards and 294 total yards in a 20-17 loss.
Kansas City did have some highlights in the loss as Kelce caught four passes for 61 yards but the receiver group was quiet outside of Tyquan Thornton’s 49-yard touchdown receptions and five catches for 30 yards by Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.
The Chiefs might have a better time going up against a New York Giants defense that allowed 343 passing yards and 478 total yards in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys last week. But getting Worthy back would put them in a better position to take advantage.
For now, it appears that Worthy could be back in the fold on Sunday night and it’s possible the Chiefs’ offense could hit the extra gear it has been lacking early in the season.