Even in comparison with the Kansas City Chiefs’ middling offenses in 2023 and ’24, this yr’s model has introduced a brand new low for the Patrick Mahomes period. Working with out Rashee Rice and largely with out Xavier Worthy, Kansas Metropolis has slogged by way of three unremarkable performances.
The Chiefs did handle a win over the lowly New York Giants in Week 3, beating the hosts by two scores earlier than Russell Wilson‘s demotion, however the workforce ranks twenty first in scoring offense and 18th in yardage by way of three video games. Though the Chiefs managed a Tremendous Bowl win and one other look with Fifteenth-ranked offenses, their early-season type has introduced concern.
Assistance is on the way in which, expensive!
A key reinforcement is coming again, nonetheless. Worthy is predicted to play towards the Ravens in Week 4. The Chiefs haven’t given the speedy wideout an harm designation, after he went by way of three full practices this week. Worthy has been sidelined because the first quarter of the Chiefs’ Week 1 loss to the Chargers, struggling a shoulder harm after colliding with Travis Kelce on a crossing route.
Worthy managed three restricted practices final week however was held out. The 165-pound move catcher is attempting to play through a fully torn labrum by wearing a harness, delaying surgical procedure. This gutsy effort might be attention-grabbing to look at, particularly for a participant Worthy’s dimension, however the 2024 first-rounder’s presence figures to make a distinction for a workforce that has been unable to depend on its passing sport a lot this season.
Kansas Metropolis has used ex-Patriots cuts Tyquan Thornton and JuJu Smith-Schuster alongside Marquise Brown at receiver. Thornton scored two long-range touchdowns over the previous two weeks, and Mahomes additionally missed him on a would-be lengthy TD towards the Eagles. Worthy’s return stands to influence Thornton’s utilization, however the Chiefs offense is not going to appear to be its deliberate model till Rice’s six-game private conduct suspension wraps. The Chiefs will face the Ravens, Jaguars and Lions earlier than having Rice again towards the Raiders in Week 7.
Andy Reid speaks out about Xavier Worthy’s standing
“Hear, you have to be wholesome sufficient to go play,” head coach Andy Reid mentioned, per NFL.com’s Kevin Patra. “I imply, we’re not gonna put him on the market if he isn’t wholesome sufficient to go play and the place he feels comfy.
“He feels good, after which the opposite workforce, they’re gonna play laborious it doesn’t matter what, whether or not you’ve got a shoulder [injury] or not. They’re gonna attempt to knock you round a bit of bit. That is why you need to be sure you’re in the precise mind set to go do it and bodily OK.”
Buying and selling up 4 spots (through the Payments) for Worthy at No. 28, the Chiefs noticed an more and more promising rookie season. His record-setting mix 40-yard sprint efficiency didn’t result in a task as a Mahomes long-range weapon; relatively, the Chiefs opted to make use of him extra as a shorter-range goal for catch-and-run functions. Worthy caught 59 passes for 638 yards and 6 touchdowns as a rookie; like Rice, he confirmed promise down the stretch. Additionally logging 20 regular-season handoffs, the Texas product totaled no less than 40 receiving yards in his closing 10 video games final season. This included an 85-yard exhibiting within the AFC Championship Sport and a garbage-time-fueled 157 in Tremendous Bowl LIX. The Chiefs will hope their most popular No. 2 wideout’s reemergence will give them a raise in a key Ravens matchup Sunday.
