The Kansas City Chiefs had high hopes for Xavier Worthy last season. The former first-round pick showed flashes of his otherworldly 4.21-second 40-yard dash speed as a rookie, and he was poised for a bigger role in his second year in the league.
Instead, Worthy caught some friendly fire from Travis Kelce early in the season opener, colliding with the veteran tight end on a crossing route. He missed time with a shoulder injury, and once he got back on the field, he wasn't much of a factor, hauling in just 42 receptions on 73 targets for 532 yards and one touchdown.
When asked about his diminished production, the former Texas star revealed that he was never truly healthy last season. And while that explains a lot, it also raises the stakes heading into the 2026 season, especially given the latest turn of events.
Xavier Worthy's latest injury admission explains a lot for the Chiefs
“Last year I was never 100%,” Worthy admitted. “I was never going to be 100% until I got the surgery. So, I got the surgery. Been working on it, building muscle mass, working at it in the offseason, getting stronger and building that shoulder back.”
That makes perfect sense, and it's hard to blame a player for getting hurt, especially if he got injured in a collision with his own teammate. That said, availability is the best ability, and in Saturday's training camp practice, Worthy seemed to re-aggravate that same shoulder after landing on it.
Head Coach Andy Reid in today's presser said Worthy is considered day-to-day, but the Chiefs can't afford to wait for him to be healthy. He must play through it with no excuses, just like every player in the NFL. Otherwise, the Chiefs should reconsider his role and future with the organization.
Worthy hasn't lived up to the hype thus far. Regardless of the reasons, he was supposed to be the team's big-play specialist they lost in the Tyreek Hill trade, and he hasn't come even close to that level of playmaking or vertical threat.
Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy (when he returns) must do a better job of scheming for him and making the most of his speed and skill set, but it's also on Worthy as a player and a pro to be available, regardless of whether he's banged up.
There were always some doubts about whether he would be able to withstand the wear and tear of the big leagues at a generous 165 lbs. His lanky and smaller frame was a red flag during the pre-draft process, and it's proving to be a real issue.
As such, this will be a make-or-break season for him. Xavier Worthy can either dangerously approach 'bust' territory and lose his spot in the depth chart, or he can finally step up and pay back the confidence bestowed upon him. Either way, the bottom line is that he has to be on the field.
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