The Kansas City Chiefs are already facing a major injury crisis at a key position heading into the 2025 NFL season.
Wide receiver Xavier Worthy left Tuesday’s practice after banging his head and is now in the NFL’s concussion protocol, head coach Andy Reid told media on Wednesday. Worth initially returned to the field Tuesday and ended the day without an injury diagnosis, but has since been entered into the protocol.
Worthy is a second-year speedster out of Texas who is being counted on to stretch opposing defenses downfield and help create opportunities for quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce underneath the coverage.
Without Worthy, 22, Kansas City could become more reliant on Hollywood Brown, whose 2024 season was hampered by ankle problems, or Rashee Rice, who is coming off surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL in his right knee.
Brown left practice on a cart Tuesday, leading to more fears for the reigning AFC champions. However, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz has since reported Brown avoided a serious injury and could be back to practice in the coming days.
For Reid, juggling injuries and other uncertainties at receiver has now become an annual occurrence.
Wide receiver Xavier Worthy left Tuesday’s practice after banging his head and is now in the NFL’s concussion protocol, head coach Andy Reid told media on Wednesday
Andy Reid has once again been forced to adjust his depth chart at wide receiver
Brown played only two games last season, while Rice and veteran acquisition DeAndre Hopkins were limited to four and 10 games, respectively. Hopkins has since left Kansas City for the rival Baltimore Ravens.
The team still has veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster and in April, Kansas City drafted former Utah State wideout Jalen Royals in the fourth round.
The Chiefs’ injury issues at receiver are exacerbated by a strong AFC West, where the rival Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers are coming off playoff berths.
Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Raiders are encouraged by the arrivals of veteran quarterback Geno Smith and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, who is coming off an impressive 2,601-yard season with Boise State.
Kansas City opens its season against the Chargers on September 5 before heading into a Super Bowl rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2.
Until then, the Chiefs have weeks more training camp to get through in the suffocating Missouri heat, not to mention preseason games against the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears.
‘It’s hard work,’ Reid said of the sweltering heat at training camp. ‘You’re out there in the heat. It’s tough… but the guys battled through. I appreciate the tempo they set and all the energy that they gave.’
