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The Kansas City Chiefs need one of their receivers to step up and make plays, and Jesse Newell of the Athletic chose Xavier Worthy as the player who could do it. Worthy was part of a larger piece in with the outlet’s staff selected one breakout player from each team.
Newell also said that Worthy would be the Chiefs’ summer practice MVP, but none of this is all that new. The Chiefs have been talking up Worthy for some time, with the latest version of this happening after receiver Rashee Rice wound up serving a 30-day jails sentence back in May and June for violating the terms of his parole related to the street racing incident that got him suspended last year.
Worthy has flashed tantalizing glimpses of star potential, but he hasn’t been able to sustain them, largely due to ongoing injury issues. The receiver is slight, and this was predicted to be a problem back when the Chiefs made him their top draft pick coming out of Texas back in 2024.
The way this played out last season was unfortunate. Worthy hurt his shoulder in a collision with tight end Travis Kelce in Kansas City’s opening game, and it affected the Chiefs offense for most of the rest of the season.
But Worthy does have a couple of things going in his favor. He’s shown some chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, which is especially vital with Mahomes coming off a serious knee injury. In addition, Worthy is still just 23, which Newell pointed out is younger than Chiefs rookie receiver Cyrus Allen.
Worthy wound up playing through a torn labrum, and according to coach Andy Reid the Chiefs had to limit his route tree as a result. He also had a high ankle sprain that limited him during the second half of the season, but he should be back to full strength after offseason shoulder surgery.
Reid has also lauded Worthy’s ability to make plays in the middle of the field, but there are questions about whether the receiver can sustain the kinds of hits he’ll almost certainly wind up taking on those kinds of routes.
This is a big season for Worthy regardless. The addition of free agent running back Kenneth Walker III is expected to give him more room to operate in the middle of the field, and the Chiefs badly need the production with Kelce likely in his last go-round in Kansas City. There’s a lot at stake here, and this could be Worthy’s make-or-break season.
Continue reading...
Newell also said that Worthy would be the Chiefs’ summer practice MVP, but none of this is all that new. The Chiefs have been talking up Worthy for some time, with the latest version of this happening after receiver Rashee Rice wound up serving a 30-day jails sentence back in May and June for violating the terms of his parole related to the street racing incident that got him suspended last year.
Worthy has flashed tantalizing glimpses of star potential, but he hasn’t been able to sustain them, largely due to ongoing injury issues. The receiver is slight, and this was predicted to be a problem back when the Chiefs made him their top draft pick coming out of Texas back in 2024.
The way this played out last season was unfortunate. Worthy hurt his shoulder in a collision with tight end Travis Kelce in Kansas City’s opening game, and it affected the Chiefs offense for most of the rest of the season.
But Worthy does have a couple of things going in his favor. He’s shown some chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, which is especially vital with Mahomes coming off a serious knee injury. In addition, Worthy is still just 23, which Newell pointed out is younger than Chiefs rookie receiver Cyrus Allen.
Worthy wound up playing through a torn labrum, and according to coach Andy Reid the Chiefs had to limit his route tree as a result. He also had a high ankle sprain that limited him during the second half of the season, but he should be back to full strength after offseason shoulder surgery.
Reid has also lauded Worthy’s ability to make plays in the middle of the field, but there are questions about whether the receiver can sustain the kinds of hits he’ll almost certainly wind up taking on those kinds of routes.
This is a big season for Worthy regardless. The addition of free agent running back Kenneth Walker III is expected to give him more room to operate in the middle of the field, and the Chiefs badly need the production with Kelce likely in his last go-round in Kansas City. There’s a lot at stake here, and this could be Worthy’s make-or-break season.
Continue reading...
