Chiefs’ Xavier Worthy ruled out for Week 2 after collision with Travis Kelce
Worthy dislocated his right shoulder in the season opener in Brazil and will miss Sunday’s rematch with the Eagles; Kansas City also remains without Rashee Rice
The Kansas City Chiefs ruled wide receiver Xavier Worthy out for Week 2 on Saturday, removing him from Sunday’s Super Bowl rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles after he dislocated his right shoulder in the season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil.
Worthy suffered the injury on Sept. 5 in the first quarter when he and tight end Travis Kelce collided while running crossing routes. Worthy returned to practice this week and coach Andy Reid had said he had a “slim” chance to play, but the team listed him as out ahead of Sunday’s game.
Kelce addressed the collision on his “New Heights” podcast, saying he “felt like s–t” after inadvertently taking his teammate out and adding, “I’ll take the most accountability myself.” Kelce said he was trying to set up his route and was not prepared for the first drive, and that he needs to be better after 13 seasons in the league.
Worthy, the 28th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, played a prominent role as a rookie, finishing the regular season with 59 catches for 638 yards and six receiving touchdowns in 17 games, along with three rushing touchdowns. During Kansas City’s run to the Super Bowl appearance, Worthy added three more touchdowns, including two against Philadelphia.
The loss of Worthy compounds a significant depletion of the Chiefs’ receiving corps: veteran Rashee Rice remains sidelined while serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy in connection with a 2024 multi-car crash in Texas. Kansas City’s unavailable personnel leaves the offense without two receivers who saw substantial roles last season.
The injury occurred in the Chiefs’ season-opening defeat in São Paulo, where Kansas City struggled to find offensive rhythm. Worthy’s absence eliminates a deep-play option and diminishes the team’s rotation of pass catchers for the early part of the season; the Chiefs must now rely on other veterans and depth players to fill snap counts and red-zone opportunities.
Reid and the Chiefs did not provide a detailed timetable for Worthy’s return beyond the Week 2 designation, and the team will monitor his recovery as it prepares for its upcoming road matchup. The club’s official injury reports in the coming days will determine whether Worthy is eligible to resume practice and how long the shoulder dislocation will sideline him.
Kansas City faces the Eagles in a high-profile early-season test without two of its expected offensive weapons, a circumstance that could influence playcalling and personnel packages as the Chiefs seek to rebound from the loss in Brazil and adjust to a shortened receiving corps.