The Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in a tough spot early in the 2025 season. After suffering a 27-21 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1, the Chiefs will welcome the reigning Super Bowl champions to town in the Philadelphia Eagles, where they will have to find a way to win without their top wide receiver, Xavier Worthy.
In Kansas City’s clash with Los Angeles, Worthy was forced out of the game almost immediately after colliding with Travis Kelce. Worthy is dealing with a shoulder injury, and while he isn’t going to play against the Eagles, it sounds like he could be on track to make a return to action for the team in Week 3.
Chiefs Eyeing Week 3 Return for Xavier Worthy
Selected with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Worthy gradually became the Chiefs’ top wide receiver as a rookie, largely because of long-term injuries Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown were dealing with. Playing in all 17 games, Worthy caught 59 passes for 638 yards and six touchdowns, while also rushing for another 104 yards and three scores on 20 carries.
Worthy was one of the only bright spots in Kansas City’s Super Bowl LIX loss to Philadelphia, as he caught eight passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. With Rice suspended for the first six games of the season, Worthy was expected to lead the team’s wide receiver corps, but that has been put on pause thanks to his shoulder injury.
It always seemed unlikely that Worthy would suit up in Week 2, and while he did practice during the week, he was ultimately ruled out for the game. However, according to a recent report from Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, it sounds like this could only be a one-week absence, as the Chiefs and Worthy are targeting a Week 3 return.
Worthy did practice this week, and my understanding is he’s got a shot to play next week against the Giants here at MetLife Stadium. We’ll see how the week in practice goes, though,” Garafolo said on “The Insiders.”
Chiefs Hoping Xavier Worthy Can Return to Action as Soon as Possible
Bruce Yeung/GettyKANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MAY 29: Wide receiver Xavier Worthy #1 of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks to the media during the press conference interviews after the Kansas City Chiefs OTAs at The University of Kansas Health System Training Complex on May 29, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Bruce Yeung/Getty Images)
Without Worthy, quarterback Patrick Mahomes is going to have to rely on a makeshift wide receiver corps led by Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton. Travis Kelce will also factor into the passing game at tight end, with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt leading the way at the running back position.
Going up against the Eagles was always going to be tough, but doing so without Worthy may be too much for the Chiefs to overcome. However, if they can somehow find a way to win and get Worthy back in Week 3, Kansas City would be in a great spot. For now, their sole focus will be on finding a way to get revenge on Philadelphia in Week 2, with kickoff for this game being scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET.
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