Chiefs braced for Xavier Worthy injury setback

The Kansas City Chiefs were already thin at wide receiver, and they lost their most promising option almost immediately in their showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil. Rookie Xavier Worthy exited in the first quarter at Arena Corinthians after suffering a shoulder injury.

Worthy left the field and headed straight to the locker room, leaving the Chiefs to shuffle their offense after just a handful of snaps.

Collision with Travis Kelce

The injury came on a crossing route when Worthy collided with tight end Travis Kelce in the middle of the field. As Worthy fell, his left arm was trapped awkwardly beneath his body. Kansas City was forced to punt on the next play after going three-and-out.

The Chiefs initially announced that Worthy’s return was questionable, before quickly ruling him out. He finished the night with no rushing yards and one target, the pass on which he was hurt, after participating in just three offensive snaps.

Head coach Andy Reid offered little detail on Worthy’s status after the game, saying only that the 22-year-old will undergo an MRI on Saturday.

Xavier Worthy’s best and worst-case scenarios

NFL injury analyst Deepak Chona suggested two possible outcomes. The best-case scenario is a simple shoulder dislocation, which typically requires about three weeks of recovery, though it carries a 50% chance of re-injury.

If the MRI reveals a significant tear or fracture, however, Worthy would need surgery that would end his season, Chona said.

Worthy’s 2024 numbers

A first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Worthy quickly became a key piece of Kansas City’s attack. He recorded 59 catches for 638 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season. In the postseason, he added 19 receptions for 287 yards and three touchdowns across three games.

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