Kansas City’s top receiver exits game early after collision with Travis Kelce, raising concerns about team’s depth at wide receiver position
Key Takeaways
- Xavier Worthy injured his shoulder after colliding with teammate Travis Kelce on the Chiefs’ third play of the season
- The 22-year-old receiver was ruled out and will undergo MRI scans when the team returns home
- Chiefs already missing suspended receiver Rashee Rice for six games, creating depth concerns
- Medical experts suggest recovery could range from 3 weeks to 4-6 months depending on severity
- Kansas City lost to Los Angeles Chargers 27-21 in their Brazil season opener
What Happened to Xavier Worthy
The Kansas City Chiefs faced a nightmare start to their 2025 season when star receiver Xavier Worthy suffered a shoulder injury just minutes into their game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The incident happened on the team’s third offensive play when Worthy and tight end Travis Kelce ran crossing routes and accidentally collided with each other.
Worthy took the worst of the impact from the 250-pound Kelce, who stands six inches taller and weighs 85 pounds more than the young receiver. The 22-year-old hit the ground hard, landing directly on his right shoulder, and remained down briefly before walking off the field with assistance.
Medical staff immediately attended to Xavier Worthy on the sidelines before he headed to the locker room with a towel over his head. He was initially listed as questionable to return but was officially ruled out in the second quarter.
Team and Medical Response
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid kept his comments brief when asked about Xavier Worthy’s condition after the team’s 27-21 loss. “We’ll have more information tomorrow when we return. We’ll conduct an MRI,” Reid told reporters.
The team confirmed Worthy went straight to the X-ray room after leaving the field. Medical experts who reviewed the footage believe the injury could be a shoulder dislocation based on how it occurred.
Dr. Chona, a surgeon and medical analyst, provided insight into potential recovery timelines. “The footage indicates a dislocation,” he explained. “In the best-case scenario, non-surgical treatment might be sufficient, with an average recovery time of three weeks. However, there is a high re-injury rate of about 50%”.
If surgery is required, Worthy could face a much longer recovery period of 4-6 months, which would effectively end his season.
Impact on Chiefs Offense
The injury comes at the worst possible time for Kansas City, who are already dealing with significant depth issues at wide receiver. Star receiver Rashee Rice is serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, while rookie Jalen Royals was inactive due to a knee injury.
Worthy was expected to be the team’s top receiving target during Rice’s absence. As a rookie last season, he led all Chiefs wide receivers with 59 receptions for 638 yards and six touchdowns. He also added three rushing touchdowns, making him one of Kansas City’s most versatile offensive weapons.
Without both Rice and potentially Worthy, quarterback Patrick Mahomes will have to rely heavily on 35-year-old Travis Kelce and veteran Hollywood Brown. The receiving corps that looked promising entering the season now appears thin and vulnerable.
Looking at the Bigger Picture
The Chiefs’ season opener revealed other concerning issues beyond Worthy’s injury. The team committed seven penalties for 48 yards in the first half alone, including multiple false starts that disrupted their offensive rhythm.
This lack of discipline is unusual for an Andy Reid-coached team, which typically excels in September after rigorous training camp preparation. The Chiefs will need to clean up these mistakes quickly while also figuring out how to replace their injured star receiver.
The collision between Worthy and Kelce also highlighted communication issues in the Chiefs’ offense, as both players appeared to be running similar routes without proper spacing.
What Comes Next for Kansas City
The Chiefs are scheduled to face the Philadelphia Eagles in a Super Bowl rematch on September 14, giving them just over a week to assess Worthy’s condition and adjust their game plan.
Rice won’t be eligible to return until the team faces the Las Vegas Raiders on October 19, meaning Kansas City could be without both of their top receivers for several weeks.
Several veteran free agents, including former Pro Bowl receiver Allen Robinson, have already reached out on social media offering their services to help the Chiefs.
The team will likely know more about Worthy’s condition and recovery timeline after Saturday’s MRI results. Until then, Chiefs Kingdom will have to wait and hope their young star can return sooner rather than later.
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