By Jeremy
The Kansas City Chiefs are currently dealing with the impact of wide receiver Xavier Worthy’s shoulder injury, which seems to be affecting his performance on the field. Head coach Andy Reid has noted that Worthy, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2024, hasn’t been at full strength since he re-injured his shoulder during training camp. This follows a dislocated and torn labrum in his right shoulder that he suffered in Week 1 of last season.
Despite these ongoing issues, Worthy remains a crucial component of the Chiefs’ offense, which is currently ranked No. 2 in the NFL. He has tallied 10 receptions for 63 yards and one touchdown so far this season. However, fans and analysts alike expected much more from him given his draft pedigree and speed. Remarkably, he hasn’t surpassed 25 receiving yards in any game this year. Reid emphasized that while Worthy is dedicated to improving week by week, the shoulder injury is still a significant hurdle for him.
This season, Worthy’s performance has been further marred by several crucial drops. Although he runs routes on 90% of quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ dropbacks, his inability to emerge as a deep threat is glaring. This role has been effectively taken over by Tyquan Thornton, who has outshined him in yardage this season.
Should the Chiefs Consider Benching Worthy?
With Reid’s comments about Xavier Worthy’s ongoing struggles and his shoulder injury, the question arises: Should the Chiefs consider benching Worthy to allow him time to heal and give Cyrus Allen a shot at a more prominent role in the receiving corps? This could be the strategic move needed to maximize the Chiefs’ offensive potential moving forward.
Worthy’s not fully healthy, and it’s hurting the offense. Bench him and let Allen get those reps. We need a reliable deep threat to keep defenses honest.