Originally listed as questionable in the team’s injury report, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Worthy is expected to play. Worthy has been a very reliable weapon for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Worthy has 27 catches for 281 yards and one touchdown while also carrying the ball seven times for 73 yards. He is a very speedy player that gives the Chiefs a big dynamic on offense.

Rashee Rice is also suiting up

Since returning from suspension, Rice has played four games this season. In those games, Rice has 26 catches for 253 yards and three touchdowns. With Worthy and Rice, there are no excuses for the Chiefs to not move the chains.

While Worthy brings speed and is used as a gadget, Rice is a volume receiver that has safe hands and good route running. The Chiefs need this win badly so both receivers need to step up for the game vs. Colts.

What are the Chiefs’ playoffs chances?

Right now, the Chiefs’ postseason odds are not great. With a loss to the Colts, the Chiefs’ chances to go to the playoffs are only 29%. If Kansas City wins, though, its odds are boosted all the way up to 57%. That’s why this team needs to win badly.

Kansas City is the ninth seed right now with a 5-5 record. It trails Houston (8th seed) and Jacksonville (7th seed – last playoffs spot). The race to get into January football is very tight.

The Kansas City Chiefs are preparing for their Monday Night Football clash with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hours before kickoff, there were questions regarding the status of wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who was put in the injury report Sunday.

The Chiefs tagged Worthy as questionable due to ankle and shoulder injuries. However, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said the injury report was a “precaution… Worthy is fine and expected to go.” Cameron Wolfe reported that Worthy’s ankle was a bit swollen as well. With kickoff approaching, Adam Schefter of ESPN cleared all the speculation by confirming Worthy is officially active to play the Jaguars tonight.

That’s exactly what Chiefs Kingdom wanted to hear. Worthy is key for this offense and for Andy Reid‘s scheme. The Chiefs are facing a tough defense in the Jaguars and Worthy will probably be a key part of the gameplan.

Worthy elevates everyone

Not only is Worthy a key piece of the offense for his production, but the threat of facing him opens up so many space for his teammates. Patrick Mahomes can either look for Worthy and his speed, or use Worthy as a decoy to find other weapons like Travis Kelce or JuJu Smith-Schuster.

The Chiefs saw how important Worthy was last week. Kansas City was having troubles moving the chains without him, and as soon as he came back, the offense opened up and they scored 37. Mahomes had his best game of the season and it was thanks to Worthy.

Jaguars’ defense is no joke

Jacksonville leads the NFL in takeaways. They’ve forced at least three turnovers in every game of the season. This not only stops the opposing team to score, but puts their own offense in short fields lots of the times.

On the flip side, the Chiefs also have a good defense. Even if these teams’ are regarded as offensive teams, it’s their defenses that are pulling the strings right now. The defense that can harm the most will guide its team to a win.

Wide receiver Worthy had suffered a shoulder dislocation and a labrum tear (the cartilage surrounding the shoulder joint) on the first offensive series of the 2025 NFL season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil, after accidentally colliding with teammate Travis Kelce. His return on Sunday was crucial for the Chiefs.

Arrowhead Stadium witnessed what Mahomes can do when he focuses on elevating his team against a strong opponent. The Ravens entered with a 1-2 record and were looking to rebound, but Kansas City’s star had other plans. Despite his dominant performance, the Chiefs’ quarterback spoke in a press conference about Worthy’s contribution, his key offensive weapon.

Mahomes’ message for Worthy after defeating the Ravens

“He’s not just a fast receiver who can run down the field. Defenses have to adjust to his speed. Today was an example of the role we expect from him,” Mahomes said regarding Worthy’s performance against Baltimore. The Chiefs’ key weapon recorded five receptions for 83 yards, marking a valuable return for the franchise’s offense.

Mahomes’ dominance over Jackson

With the Chiefs’ win, Jackson is now 1-6 when facing Mahomes. The last time the Ravens’ quarterback defeated the Chiefs’ star was on September 19, 2021, in Week 2 of that season, by a narrow 36-35 score.

Mahomes’ record-setting performance

Mahomes threw for 270 passing yards in the game, adding 4 touchdown passes and reaching 250 career touchdowns at age 30, a historic milestone in the league that made him the youngest player to reach this mark, surpassing Aaron Rodgers. His level of play is becoming increasingly dominant in a season that started 0-2 and raised some doubts for the Chiefs.

Worthy’s absence created a challenge for the Chiefs’ offense, which had to redistribute passing options and rely on other receivers to keep the rhythm in Mahomes’ aerial attack. Throughout his recovery, the medical staff and coaches closely monitored his progress to avoid setbacks.

Fans and analysts closely followed Worthy’s progress, wondering if his return could directly impact the effectiveness of Kansas City’s offense. Anticipation grew as Sunday’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens approached, where Reid’s Chiefs will look to reaffirm their offensive performance.

Will Worthy play against the Ravens?

The Chiefs can finally smile, as Worthy will be back this Sunday for the Week 4, as reported NFL insider Field Yates. The young receiver will resume his role as one of Kansas City’s primary weapons in the passing game. His return gives the team a significant boost, both in talent and morale.

The impact of Worthy’s return

Kansas City’s start has been inconsistent, with a record that reflects issues in closing out games and stabilizing their offense. Worthy’s presence could be a decisive factor in strengthening his connection with Mahomes and raising the team’s chances of success in this early stretch of the season.

With Rashee Rice suspended, Worthy’s absence had posed a difficult challenge for Reid. Now, the Chiefs’ head coach will have an added weapon to bring stability against opponents like Baltimore, who are also looking to secure their place in the standings.

During a challenging start to the season, the Chiefs faced adversity early on. In Week 1’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, they lost Xavier Worthy to injury. Adding to their woes, Rashee Rice faced a six-game suspension for violating personal conduct policies. With these setbacks, the outlook for the team was not promising. However, head coach Andy Reid remained confident in Tyquan Thornton, a decision that quickly paid dividends.

After a morale-boosting victory against the Giants, Patrick Mahomes did not hold back his praise for Thornton’s performance. “I would throw to him a couple of times last year, just to see what he had, and you could see that he had juice… into training camp, he was one of those guys that was down there with me working in Texas, and so I knew he was gonna be a good football player, but he’s even exceeding my expectations,” he said, as reported by Chiefs Wire.

Tyquan Thornton delivered a NFL career-best performance against the Giants, showcasing his star potential. The 25-year-old dazzled with five receptions for 71 yards and capped his night with a touchdown. With Worthy and Rice nearing their return, fans remain eager to see Thornton solidify his role as a key player on the Chiefs’ roster, building on his impressive display and potential.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid opens up on Tyquan Thornton’s performance making a bold confession

Tyquan Thornton, a 2022 second-round NFL pick, initially attracted interest from the Chiefs but ultimately joined the New England Patriots. His release in November 2024 sparked criticism about his capabilities. However, after signing with the Chiefs’ practice squad, he seized the chance to demonstrate his potential. Impressed by his performance, head coach Andy Reid publicly praised Thornton, offering an unexpected confession.

“He’s showing some things. He’s a guy that I know [receiver] JuJu [Smith-Schuster] spoke highly of when he was with the [New England] Patriots and Bill Belichick gave him big compliments. He’s come in here and done nothing but work hard,” Andy Reid said, via ESPN.

Despite entering the 2025 NFL season under intense scrutiny, he exceeded expectations with an extraordinary performance, solidifying his place on the team. At just 25, he has demonstrated the ability to vie for the starting spot, providing hope and excitement to the Chiefs’ faithful. While he continues to grow and refine his skills, his immediate impact in a challenging season has marked him as a player to watch.

The Chiefs need a win to avoid starting the season with three consecutive losses, a start that would complicate their playoff aspirations. The offense has shown struggles in passing yards and the running game, so Worthy’s potential absence adds pressure on Mahomes and Reid’s creativity to adjust the game plan.

Mahomes, for his part, will look to maintain the high level of play that defines him. This situation is unlike anything he has faced in his professional career, marking a negative streak the Kansas City team hasn’t experienced since 2014. Adding to the challenge, the news about Worthy is discouraging.

Will Worthy play against the Giants?

Worthy has been ruled out for the game against the Giants due to the shoulder injury he suffered in the season opener. Despite limited practice during the week, he will not travel with the team to New York.

Worthy had an impressive rookie season with nine touchdowns and 59 receptions, so his absence represents a significant setback for the Chiefs’ offense. As in the previous game, Reid will need to reorganize Kansas City’s offensive scheme.

Depth chart adjustments

To reinforce the roster, the Chiefs promoted cornerback Kevin Knowles from the practice squad while focusing on adapting their offense against the Giants’ defense. Sunday’s matchup will be crucial for the direction of the franchise early in the season.

Worthy suffered a shoulder dislocation and a complete labrum tear on the first offensive play of the season, during the 27–21 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil. The avoidable injury occurred after a collision with teammate Travis Kelce, highlighting the rocky start for the Chiefs this season.

Mahomes and Reid have shown deep self-criticism following the defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles, emphasizing that the team needs to improve. However, they also acknowledge the importance of having the necessary tools to demonstrate improvement on the field, making injury updates essential at this point in the season.

Worthy’s injury update

Reid has received the latest update on Worthy’s injury, learning that the Chiefs’ wide receiver is still participating in practices on a limited basis. This report marks the second update of the week. Worthy’s practice work involves making one-handed catches using his injured shoulder, which is an encouraging sign for his potential return.

Which rookie is ready to debut for the Chiefs?

Not all news is bad for Mahomes’ Chiefs. In recent hours, rookie Jalen Royals has been declared available to play after overcoming knee tendinitis. The 22-year-old receiver had been dealing with the injury since training camp and was upgraded to full participant in practice, suggesting he is close to making his professional debut.

Other Chiefs player updates

In addition to Royals, left tackle Josh Simmons was also upgraded from limited to full after recovering from illness. In contrast, defensive end Mike Danna (quad) and cornerback Kristian Fulton (ankle) remain out of practice.

Worthy collided with Travis Kelce while running a route in the game against the Chargers, and after the brutal sequence, the worst was feared regarding the final diagnosis. However, a new report from Ian Rapoport has brought a lot of optimism to the Chiefs.

“My understanding is Xavier Worthy is looking good to play next week for the Chiefs and if he does so, he will do it with a fully torn labrum and a harness. It sounds crazy, but it’s something that several NFL players do.”

Is Xavier Worthy playing for Chiefs?

Xavier Worthy will play for the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3 against the New York Giants. It’s a massive update for Patrick Mahomes’ offense, especially considering that Rashee Rice is suspended for three games.

Injuries and suspensions have been the biggest obstacles for Mahomes’ unit. In a striking fact, the quarterback has never had all three of his top wide receiver weapons—Rice, Worthy, and Hollywood Brown—available in the same game.

After Kansas City’s poor debut against the Los Angeles Chargers, all efforts are now focused on avoiding a 0-2 start that could partially derail the high expectations resting on the shoulders of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and the rest of the roster.

Worthy has been dealing with shoulder issues, and Chiefs fans want to know if he will be on the field to help try to beat the Eagles after February’s crushing Super Bowl defeat. The franchise has made a final decision regarding the availability of its key weapons.

Is Xavier Worthy playing in Chiefs vs Eagles?

Xavier Worthy is not playing for the Chiefs this Sunday afternoon against the Eagles. He was officially ruled out with a shoulder injury. The news was confirmed and clears up any doubts after he had been seen practicing in a limited capacity while wearing a protective sleeve with padding on his right shoulder and arm.

Andy Reid had said that the chances of him playing were “slim,” but it is now confirmed that Mahomes’ key weapon will not be available for the big Week 2 showdown. No recovery timeline has been confirmed yet, and speculation will continue in the coming days.

What are the Chiefs losing without Worthy?

The Chiefs will lose a key weapon who could be a reliable target for Mahomes’ deep throws. In addition, Reid’s team will miss a vertical “field-stretching” threat, which forces defenses to open up. Without him, there may be fewer deep plays. The combined absence of Worthy and wide receiver Rashee Rice (suspended) makes the lack of depth at the position even more concerning.

The timing for the Super Bowl LIX rematch is far from great, considering Kansas City is 0-1 and dealing with concerning injuries in the WR room. Therefore, Chiefs Kingdom is wondering whether Worthy will play in Week 2.

The second-year wideout is still questionable for the Eagles game, having missed Wednesday’s practice. Fortunately, Andy Reid ruled out two concerning scenarios for Worthy by dismissing the option of surgery or placing him on Injured Reserve, a measure that would force Worthy to miss at least four games.

Early in the week, Reid said Worthy will be evaluated “day-to-day,” so the Chiefs are taking their time before confirming his status to play Philadelphia. Still, a Week 2 return looks like a long shot. But a Week 3 appearance may be in the cards.

Xavier Worthy could return in Week 3 vs Giants

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Week 3 could be a realistic return date for Worthy. The wideout suffered a dislocated shoulder after colliding with Kelce against the Chargers, making his return date unclear.

Russini, however, believes Worthy’s return could be on the national spotlight, as she “wouldn’t be surprised” if he’s ready just in time for the Chiefs‘ Sunday Night Football showdown against the New York Giants on September 21.

It may not be precisely what Chiefs fans want to hear—the ideal scenario would be to play the Eagles at full strength to heal the wounds from the 40-22 loss in Super Bowl LIX in February.

However, the situation could be worse. The less time Worthy spends on the sidelines the better, and if Week 3 is the earliest he could return, Kansas City would have to take it.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the Chiefs head coach ruled out two concerning scenarios for Worthy. First, he strongly denied the possibility of surgery for the second-year wideout: “No, not right now.”

In addition, Reid also made it abundanty clear that placing Worthy on Injured Reserve is not an option either. “He’s rehabbing,” said Reid, as quoted by Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports.

Reid provides positive update on Worthy, but return date remains unclear

Reid’s comments should be quite refreshing for Chiefs Kingdom, with many fearing worst-case scenarios for Worthy. However, it might be too soon to tell when he will be cleared to return.

Those expecting Worthy back soon should hold their horses for a bit, since Reid said Worthy and fellow wideout Jalen Royals are the only Chiefs players not practicing Wednesday.

Chiefs still waiting for Worthy and Royals

The good news is that, according to the Chiefs coach, both wide receivers are doing better and making progress as they target a return to action. Worthy’s clash with Kelce resulted in a dislocated shoulder, making his recovery date unclear.

Royals, meanwhile, has been dealing with knee tendinitis since preseason. The rookie wideout missed the loss to the Chargers in Brazil, which is why Worthy’s injury during the game hit the WR room even more.

In the meantime, Patrick Mahomes is counting on Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, Nikko Remigio, and Jason Brownlee as his healthy wideouts. On Sunday, the Chiefs will host the Philadelphia Eagles at Arrowhead in a highly anticipated Super Bowl LIX rematch, with Worthy and Royals’ status still uncertain.