kansascity
The Kansas City Chiefs stormed out to a 9-0 first-quarter lead against the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, relying on a formula that has become increasingly familiar. The early surge was powered by five carries, including a 33-yard touchdown run, from rookie sensation Kenneth Walker III, and complemented by Patrick Mahomes completing 5 of 6 passes for 58 yards. But the fast start, which proved sufficient to secure a 22-6 win over the struggling AFC West rival, also featured the surprising resurgence of wide receiver Xavier Worthy.
Worthy's seven receptions for 73 yards represented the second-most catches and third-most receiving yards he has recorded in a regular-season game. More importantly, those figures accounted for half of his previous 2026 season total of 14 receptions and more than half of his previous 133 yards. The 2024 first-round draft pick had appeared to be an afterthought for much of the early season, whether due to play selection, defensive schemes, or simply the reality of sharing targets in a crowded offense, as head coach Andy Reid reiterated on Monday.
Following an injury-marred and disappointing sophomore campaign, questions had arisen about when—or if—Worthy would recapture the promise he displayed as a rookie. Speculation had even surfaced that his limited production stemmed from shortcomings in his game. When offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was asked a few weeks ago about what it would take to get more out of Worthy, he chuckled and dismissed the notion that anything was amiss. "I don't think there's anything going on," Bieniemy said, praising Worthy's weekly mental and physical preparation. With a smile, he added, "You know, we've got stuff for him." Bieniemy acknowledged that defenses sometimes take away those plays but conceded, "Obviously, we've got to find a way to get a little more creative with him."
The Chiefs did exactly that against the Raiders, albeit in a game overshadowed by Tyquan Thornton's five catches for 111 yards and gruesome injury. Worthy contributed four catches for 70 yards that day, including a contested 41-yard reception on third-and-10 that ranked as the third-longest regular-season grab of his career. But with Thornton now out indefinitely and Rashee Rice sidelined on Sunday with a hamstring injury sustained in Las Vegas, Worthy stepped into a featured role. He made an immediate impact on the first two series, hauling in a sprawling 15-yard reception and another diving catch for 4 yards. Later, on a third-and-2 crossing route, he made a deft adjustment that allowed Mahomes to lob a 15-yard gain between two defenders—a welcome sight for a Chiefs offense that has struggled in short-yardage situations.
"I feel like they trust me," Worthy said in the locker room after the game. "Obviously, having the trust of your team is big." Most significant is having the trust of Mahomes, who appeared to be in sync with Worthy on the first offensive play of the game—a would-be 33-yard gain that was negated by an illegal block on Travis Kelce. Worthy initially seemed to settle in the middle of the field before accelerating toward the sideline as Mahomes settled into the pocket. The connection, even though wiped out, hinted at the evolving rapport between quarterback and receiver. Worthy downplayed the idea of a specific adjustment but noted, "I kind of just felt space—and gravitated to it." In doing so, he delivered a resounding reminder that there remains ample opportunity for him to make an impact despite the cynical narrative surrounding him.
Key Analysis
One eye-opening performance won't necessarily silence the skeptics, and Worthy certainly has more to prove. However, it's worth remembering that he still owns the NFL Combine record with a 4.21-second 40-yard dash and is only 23 years old. Last season was marred by a shoulder injury suffered in a collision with Kelce just three plays into the opening loss to the Chargers in Brazil. While his stats dipped from 59 catches for 538 yards and six touchdowns in 2024 to 42 for 532 and one last season, Worthy said during training camp in St. Joseph that he was never fully healthy in 2025. That limitation, he explained, prevented him from running many of the routes he normally would. Before the injury, his last fully healthy game was an eight-catch, 157-yard outburst in the Chiefs' 40-22 Super Bowl LIX loss to the Eagles. "He's always had this ability and can do all of this," Reid said. "We've had the confidence that he can do all that. That's never been the question. I know I've been asked about his production a lot, but my answer's been the same: He's a good football player, and it's just a matter of there's only so many plays and so many times you can spread the ball around. Which I think is tough on a defense if you're able to spread it around." At least by all appearances on Sunday, it's even tougher when the Chiefs get a little more creative with Worthy.
Originally reported by kansascity.