Xavier Worthy’s Stellar Chiefs Rookie Season Hits Temporary Setback with Shoulder Injury

Rising Star in Kansas City

Xavier Worthy, the former Texas Longhorns standout who earned three All-Big 12 honors and set the NFL Combine record with a blazing 4.21-second 40-yard dash, was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2024 NFL draft.

The dynamic receiver has already made his mark in the NFL, earning the Chiefs’ Rookie of the Year award and scoring the team’s first touchdown in the 2025 Super Bowl. His rookie season was particularly impressive, as he scored two touchdowns in his NFL debut against the Baltimore Ravens in September 2024.

Recent Performance and Setback

Worthy has shown remarkable progress, particularly in his late-season emergence, handling a significant 26% target share (8.7 per game) in his final six games, including playoffs, and scoring at least 19 fantasy points in five of those games.

Working alongside quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has consistently finished in the top 10 in passing yards and touchdowns for seven straight years, Worthy has positioned himself well for a breakout season, especially with Travis Kelce aging and Rashee Rice facing a six-game suspension.

Current Situation

However, Worthy recently suffered a setback in Friday’s game against the Chargers, sustaining a shoulder injury in a collision with teammate Travis Kelce during the first quarter. The wideout left the field in apparent pain and was subsequently ruled out of the game.

Looking ahead, Worthy is expected to step into the ‘Rice role’ during Rice’s suspension. In this position last year, between Weeks 13-17, he performed as WR21 in fantasy points per game, maintaining a 21.3% target share and averaging 57 receiving yards per game.