Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has firmly addressed Xavier Worthy’s Week 4 status heading into the team’s matchup with the Baltimore Ravens.
Worthy, who has been sidelined since Week 1 after dislocating his right shoulder, participated fully in Wednesday’s practice, raising hopes of seeing him back on the field.
Reid emphasized that the young receiver “has stayed in good shape” throughout his recovery and remains on track to play.
Worthy suffered the shoulder injury early in the season opener in Brazil after a collision with tight end Travis Kelce on a crossing route.
That unfortunate incident forced him out of the game and triggered concerns about how long he might be out. As the Chiefs aim to stabilize their offense, his potential return is being closely watched by both fans and coaching staff.
How Worthy’s absence has affected Kansas City
Worthy’s absence has significantly impacted the Chiefs’ receiving corps. Last season, he emerged as a deep threat, finishing with 59 catches for 638 yards and six receiving touchdowns, plus three rushing scores on the ground.
His explosiveness and route-running added weapons to the offense that Mahomes and the coaching staff valued highly.
With Rashee Rice currently suspended for six games, and Worthy out injured, the Chiefs have leaned heavily on Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and rookies like Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Royals.
Thornton, in particular, has impressed, stepping up in Worthy’s absence. But many believe that bringing Worthy back will relieve pressure on the pecking order and open up the offense in ways Thornton and others cannot replicate.
Reid has made clear that while Worthy pushed to return earlier-in Week 3 against the Giants-ultimately the decision was made to rest him.
“He was real positive coming in, and he was mentally. He was saying I’m going to play in the game and you kind of have to take that approach with that type of an injury, and he did,” Reid remarked. “He came out and practiced and did the best that he could. But it just wasn’t right.”
That caution suggests both player and coach are prioritizing long-term health over short-term gain, a lesson learned from prior seasons when Chiefs’ offensive playmakers have been lost to injury early in the year.
Reid’s confidence in Worthy ahead of Week 4 provides both optimism and questions. If Worthy does return, how quickly can he pick up where he left off?
Can the offense maintain rhythm and chemistry with Mahomes, given the reshuffling of targets so far? And can Worthy play without aggravating the injury, especially against Baltimore’s physical secondary?
Worthy’s positive progress in practice
On Wednesday, Worthy’s full participation in practice was a strong positive sign. Reid said, “He’s been able to keep himself in good shape.”
The hope is that this translates to action on Sunday. A healthy Worthy would add not just depth but dimension-a vertical threat that forces defenses to account for him downfield, potentially opening up space for other receivers and tight ends.
For now, Chiefs fans remain cautiously optimistic. Reid’s doubles-down approach sends a message: the team believes Worthy can help shift momentum and inject more explosiveness into the offense.
With the Ravens looming, this might be exactly the spark Kansas City needs. The key will be execution and whether Worthy’s return can blend seamlessly into a roster that has been adapting to his absence.
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