Xavier Worthy
Bruce Yeung/Getty
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 29: Wide receiver Xavier Worthy #1 of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks to the media during the press conference interviews after the Kansas City Chiefs OTAs at The University of Kansas Health System Training Complex on May 29, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Bruce Yeung/Getty Images)
The injury news on Kansas City Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy is both good and bad. The bad news is he dislocated his shoulder on a collision with TE Travis Kelce in the first quarter of the Chiefs’ Week 1 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil. The good news is that, for now at least, he’s forgoing surgical repair and will try and play through it with a brace.
It’s unclear exactly when Worthy will be back on the field in a game for Kansas City, but he returned to practice on Thursday. Speaking with the media on Friday, fellow Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster spoke on what that level of toughness means for Worthy.
“Yeah it says a lot about his character,” Smith-Schuster said. “I mean he’s a guy who’s been playing through injuries in the past and that’s something he’s preached about. So just seeing him out there catching balls, moving around — just shows that whether it’s a small injury or a big injury he’s pushing through to be back.”
Opportunity Abounds in this Kansas City Chiefs Offense With Xavier Worthy Out
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Gregory Shamus/GettyNEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 06: JuJu Smith-Schuster #9 of the Kansas City Chiefs talks during media availability prior to Super Bowl LIX at the New Orleans Marriott on February 06, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Worthy is officially “doubtful” for the Chiefs’ Week 2 game against the Eagles. He’s unlikely to play, and WR Rashee Rice remains out due to a league suspension. Rice will return in Week 7, and while Worthy will likely return in some capacity by then, there lies opportunity for other weapons in this offense to step up.
Rice and Worthy are QB Patrick Mahomes’ top targets in this offense. Veteran TE Travis Kelce remains reliable, but he’s not the every-down, No. 1 passing target like he once was. It’ll be up to some of the Chiefs’ ancillary receivers to step up and produce.
WR Hollywood Brown was Mahomes’ go-to guy once Worthy left the game against the Chargers, and he’ll likely be that again this week. But Smith-Schuster has an opportunity here, as well. He hasn’t had a season with 1,000 receiving yards since he had 1,426 in 2018 with the Steelers, but he did have 933 with the Chiefs back in 2022. He’s an effective possession receiver from the slot, and Mahomes will be counting on him to convert in some key situations.
The Kansas City Chiefs Have a Big Showdown and Super Bowl Rematch Upcoming
The last time Kansas City faced the Philadelphia Eagles, it did not go well. The Chiefs lost last season’s Super Bowl 40-22, but the Chiefs scored most of their points in garbage time. It wasn’t even that close.
Kansas City struggled and lost in Week 1, and even though the Eagles did beat the Cowboys, they struggled too. Philly’s passing offense was anemic, and their defense gave up big plays through the air all night against Cowboys QB Dak Prescott.
The Chiefs can attack the Eagles downfield if their offensive line can hold up, something that didn’t happen in that Super Bowl loss. It’ll be tough without Worthy, but Smith-Schuster can still make an impact.