The Kansas City Chiefs finally won their first game of the season in Week 3, but their offense still looked like a work in progress. That’s why getting star wide receiver Xavier Worthy on the field is the Chiefs’ top priority, especially as Rashee Rice continues serving his six-game suspension.
Fortunately, help might finally be on the way for quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the rest of Kansas City’s attack. The Kansas City Star’s Pete Sweeney reported on Wednesday that Worthy is back in practice ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. Jalen Royals and Kristian Fulton will also be back, giving the Chiefs a much-needed boost.
Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy Continues to Trend Towards Week 4 Return
Hopefully, Worthy continues to participate in practice throughout the week, as his presence is sorely missed.
It seemed like the Chiefs would get their second-year wideout again in time for Week 3’s matchup with the New York Giants. As much as he pushed and wanted to be there, head coach Andy Reid chose to err on the side of caution with his speedster:
“He was real positive coming in, and he was mentally. He was saying I’m going to play in the game and you kind of have to take that approach with that type of an injury, and he did,” Reid told reporters via Zoom, per A to Z Sports. “He came out and practiced and did the best that he could. But it just wasn’t right. Between Xavier and the doctors, we thought it was best if he didn’t play.”
It looks like Reid’s decision to rest Worthy again was the right call, especially if it means his return this weekend.
Besides, it made sense to keep Worthy out of harm’s way, especially considering that the Chiefs had no reason to be afraid of the Giants. Having said that, they might not be able to afford an absence in Week 4. That matchup with the Ravens and their struggling defense promises to be a high-scoring matchup, and the Chiefs could use their big-play specialist.
Worthy made 17 appearances with 13 starts as a rookie, finishing the season with 59 receptions on 98 targets for 638 yards and six touchdowns. He added 20 carries for 104 yards and three scores on the ground. That’s the type of versatility that could open the door for more creativity and trickery from offensive coordinator Matt Nagy’s predictable offense.
Rashee Rice will still be out for the next three games, and Worthy should be the primary weapon in his absence. More than that, he will have the next couple of games to prove that he has what it takes to be the Chiefs’ WR1, even when Rice is eligible to return.
