Despite being less than two full weeks into the 2025-26 season, it’s been a busy year already for the Kansas City Chiefs. They’ve been paid a visit by the injury bug, most notably with wide receiver Xavier Worthy.
Fortunately, Worthy seems to have avoided a worst-case scenario. In fact, he’s doing better than many originally expected. Per the team, the second-year wideout is returning to the practice field for the first time since suffering a dislocated shoulder.
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Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy Returns to Practice After Suffering Shoulder Injury
This is massive news, albeit a development that requires context. Worthy didn’t practice on Wednesday, as evidenced by the Chiefs’ official injury report. His anticipated return is a big deal, but it’s important to keep in mind the nature of his participation.
It’s wise to assume Worthy will continue to be limited for the time being. While Kansas City doesn’t believe surgery or an injured reserve stint is on the table, he isn’t out of the woods yet. After all, the former first-round pick is just days removed from an in-game collision with tight end Travis Kelce.
Worthy played just three snaps in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Speaking to the media this week, head coach Andy Reid explained the challenges of adjusting to his absence on the fly.
“It’s just making sure guys are in the right positions,” Reid said. “We’re lucky that we’ve got a pretty smart group that stepped in there. [General manager] Brett [Veach] has done a good job at bringing guys in that we feel comfortable playing with, most of all that the quarterback feels comfortable with. So, it’s been a plus and then they work all the situations and the substitutions all the time. They do it during training camp. Everybody gets a chance to play during training camp that’s in that first group, per se. I thought they handled that well. We have a lot of different formations we run.”
Projecting Kansas City’s Receiver Room for Week 2 Game vs. Eagles
It’s this writer’s take that Worthy returning to practice is an unquestioned positive. With that said, there’s still plenty of room to question his availability for Week 2. Sunday’s contest against the Philadelphia Eagles will be here before anyone knows it. That creates a risk-reward game the Chiefs likely can’t afford to play, even given the magnitude of the outing.
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Fortunately for Kansas City, it might be able to manage. Without Worthy (and Rashee Rice, who’s serving a six-week suspension), the offense came alive down the stretch last Friday. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was magnificent, extending plays with his legs and delivering strikes through the air. If he can don the Superman cape again, it’d bode well for his supporting cast.
In a non-Worthy reality, Kelce figures to be Mahomes’ top target. Statistically, that crown went to Marquise “Hollywood” Brown in Week 1. The rest of the wideout room, namely JuJu Smith-Schuster (5 catches for 55 yards) and Tyquan Thornton (2 catches for 41 yards) produced. Thornton drew significant praise from Reid in the aftermath of the game.
Heading into Sunday, the Chiefs also have return specialist Nikko Remigio and preseason darling Jason Brownlee. Rookie Jalen Royals, battling knee tendonitis, missed another practice.
If Worthy misses this weekend, Kansas City must adjust accordingly. Him practicing in any capacity is a pleasant surprise for the team on Thursday, though.
