An inadvertent collision with teammate Travis Kelce has led to an early and troubling exit for Xavier Worthy.
Worthy, the Kansas City Chiefs' top wide receiver, was ruled out during the second quarter of Friday night's 27-21 season-opening loss in Brazil against the Los Angeles Chargers with a shoulder injury. Following the game, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid didn't have an update on Worthy, stating he would know more once the team returned home and Worthy underwent an MRI.
On Kansas City's third offensive play -- an incomplete pass to Worthy -- the Chiefs' 2024 first-rounder crashed into Kelce. Worthy emerged from the ground favoring his right arm. He was attended to on the bench before exiting to the locker room with a towel over his head.
Worthy was initially announced as questionable to return, but his body language suggested a worse fate.
With wide receiver Rashee Rice suspended six games and rookie Jalen Royals inactive due to an injury, the Chiefs' wide receiver corps was already thin and Worthy being a go-to target for quarterback Patrick Mahomes was evident in just the first three snaps. Worthy carried the ball for no gain on second down and was targeted on third, when he was injured.
Worthy, 22, was second on the Chiefs as a rookie with 59 receptions and tops among WRs on the team, as were his 638 receiving yards. His six touchdowns led all pass catchers.
With Worthy down and out, Mahomes is likely to look to starters Marquise Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster for more targets, along with Tyquan Thornton.
