Chiefs' Xavier Worthy a full practice participant; potential Week 4 return vs Ravens

Xavier Worthy is poised to rejoin the Kansas City Chiefs' offense after being a full participant in practice on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Worthy has been sidelined since Week 1, when he dislocated his shoulder in the Chiefs' season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers following a collision with tight end Travis Kelce. The Chiefs face the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday, and Worthy's status is a major topic as Kansas City seeks to rebuild its depth at receiver.

Last week, Worthy was listed as a limited participant for several days ahead of Sunday night’s game against the New York Giants, but he was ultimately ruled inactive. Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Friday that Worthy looked fast and performed well during the week, fueling optimism about a potential Week 4 return.

Worthy, a 2024 first-round pick (No. 28), made an immediate impact as a rookie, recording 59 catches for 638 yards and six touchdowns. He added three rushing scores as well. In Kansas City’s postseason run, Worthy again found the end zone three times, including two touchdowns during the Chiefs’ hard-fought loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. His ability to stretch the field and create after the catch helped the Chiefs open up opportunities for other playmakers as the offense clicked late in the year.

His return would provide quarterback Patrick Mahomes with another speedy option and help offset the absence of at least some of the Chiefs' veteran depth. The Chiefs have leaned on Kelce, Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling at various points early this season, but Worthy’s presence could stretch defenses and improve red-zone chances. A healthy Worthy would allow Kansas City to deploy multiple receiver sets more freely and keep defenses guessing as Mahomes operates from a clean pocket.

Kelce acknowledged the hit was costly and said he would take accountability for the sequence, noting on the New Heights podcast with his brother Jason that he felt responsible and that he had taken out one of his teammates in the play. The incident has lingered in the Chiefs' early-season narrative as the team works to establish continuity on offense.

Worthy’s path back remains a key storyline for the Chiefs this week as they prepare for a potentially pivotal Week 4 matchup. If he’s active, the Chiefs will deploy him in a rotation that features Kelce, Moore and MVS, along with a healthy dose of running backs. The timing could not be more important as Kansas City seeks to return to its usual offensive rhythm after a shaky start and a narrow push toward the kind of high-powered attack that has defined the Mahomes era.

ESPN's Schefter noted Worthy's return would come as Kansas City evaluates its receiver depth ahead of a challenging stretch. The 2024 first-rounder has shown the speed and run-after-catch ability that made him a prominent option in the draft, and his return could provide a much-needed boost as the Chiefs chase another deep playoff run.