Xavier Worthy injury could require surgery as Chiefs hold their breath

Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy suffered a dislocated shoulder in his collision with teammate Travis Kelce in Kansas City’s season-opening loss Friday night to the Chargers in Brazil.

Worthy is undergoing further testing and seeking additional opinions with the hope of returning later this season, but surgery remains an option, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.

The 22-year-old Worthy was injured on his third offensive snap of the season after colliding with Kelce on a crossing pattern and missed the remainder of the 27-21 loss to the Chargers in Sao Paulo.

The Chiefs already are without receiver Rashee Rice, who is serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, stemming from his involvement in a high-speed car crash in March 2024.

The speedy Worthy, the 28th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, recorded 59 catches for 638 yards and six touchdowns — plus three rushing scores — in 17 games as a rookie for the Chiefs last season. He scored three more TDs in the postseason, including two late in KC’s loss to the Eagles in the Super Bowl.

WIthout Rice and Worthy against the Chargers, Hollywood Brown caught 10 balls for 99 yards and JuJu Smith-Schuster had five for 55 among Patrick Mahomes’ 258 passing yards. Kelce finished with just two receptions, but one of them was a 37-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Fourth-year wideout Tyquan Thornton also figures to see an expanded role in Worthy’s absence, beginning with their Week 2 rematch against the Eagles.