Dislocated shoulder leaves Kansas City waiting on second-year receiver’s status
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy suffered a dislocated shoulder in Friday night’s 27-21 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and is now seeking a second opinion on the injury, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. However, there are chances that he might return with a shoulder brace. The second-year pass catcher went down early in the first quarter after colliding with teammate Travis Kelce on a crossing route and was immediately ruled out for the rest of the game. Head coach Andy Reid confirmed Worthy would undergo an MRI after the team’s return to Kansas City.
Rapoport reported that while surgery remains on the table, the expectation is that Worthy will return this season, potentially playing with a shoulder brace. “He’s still undergoing tests,” Rapoport posted on X, noting that any surgical decision could alter the timeline significantly.
The Chiefs had already declared Worthy out by the second quarter, ending a night that was supposed to highlight his growing role in Kansas City’s offense. With Rashee Rice suspended for the first six games, Worthy was projected to step in as the top receiving option alongside Kelce and Hollywood Brown.
Brown shone with 10 receptions for 99 yards, while JuJu Smith-Schuster added 55 yards on five catches. Kelce contributed just two receptions but one was with Patrick Mahomes for a 37-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Despite those efforts, Kansas City fell short as Justin Herbert led the Chargers to a narrow win.
The injury occurred when Worthy and Kelce crossed paths on the opening drive. Both collided shoulder to shoulder, with Worthy taking the brunt of the impact. He stayed on the turf briefly, clutching his right shoulder, before heading to the locker room.
Worthy’s availability moving forward is uncertain. The Chiefs remain hopeful he can avoid surgery and return with a brace, but no official timeline has been set. After an impressive rookie season with 59 catches, 638 yards, and six touchdowns, plus a breakout playoff run, the 22-year-old entered 2025 carrying major expectations. His absence now leaves Kansas City searching for stability in a passing game that has already faced challenges.
Mandatory Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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