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 Super Bowl rematch with the Eagles; the Chiefs also remain without suspended receiver Rashee Rice.
Kansas City Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy has been ruled out for Week 2 after dislocating his right shoulder during the season opener, the team announced Saturday.
Worthy suffered the injury in the first quarter of last Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil when he and teammate Travis Kelce collided while running crossing routes. Worthy returned to practice this week, but head coach Andy Reid said the receiver — who had a "slim" chance to play — will not be available for Sunday’s Super Bowl rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kelce addressed the play on his "New Heights" podcast, saying he felt responsible for the injury. "I’ll take the most accountability myself," Kelce said. "I wasn’t ready for that first drive, I ran into one of my guys and offed him out of the game. I literally took one of my players out. That’s one of the most frustrating parts and it’s hard to get your juices back going knowing you just hurt a guy." He added, "I’m supposed to be running my route at depth for Worthy… I just gotta be better, man. I’m 13 years in the league. There is no excuse [for me] running into my own guys like that."
Worthy, the 28th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, was an important part of Kansas City’s passing attack as a rookie. He finished the regular season with 59 receptions for 638 yards and six receiving touchdowns in 17 games and added three rushing scores. During Kansas City’s run to the Super Bowl, Worthy caught three more touchdowns, including two against Philadelphia.
The loss compounds the Chiefs’ early-season receiver shortage. Veteran Rashee Rice is serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy related to a multi-car crash in Texas in 2024. Kansas City also lost its Week 1 contest in Brazil, where Worthy sustained the shoulder injury on Sept. 5, 2025.
Reid provided the latest injury update at a news availability before the team’s flight to Philadelphia, saying medical staff had been optimistic enough for Worthy to take part in team activities this week but that the player had not reached the clearance threshold to be active on Sunday. The club did not provide a specific timetable for Worthy’s return beyond the Week 2 absence.
Worthy’s injury could force the Chiefs to adjust their game plan against the Eagles, a rematch of last season’s conference title meetings that culminated with Kansas City reaching the Super Bowl. Kansas City will rely on remaining wideouts and tight ends to fill the void and on the coaching staff to reconfigure personnel packages while Rice serves his suspension.
The Chiefs did not immediately announce roster moves to replace Worthy on the active roster for Sunday’s game. The team is expected to evaluate available receivers and practice-squad options in the coming days as it prepares for the short week and travel schedule.
Worthy’s absence will be a storyline to monitor as the NFL season develops and as the Chiefs manage injuries and suspensions while defending their AFC position. The club’s medical staff will continue to assess his progress and provide updates on his recovery timeline after further examinations and treatment.