Will Chiefs' Xavier Worthy play vs. Eagles? Odds are slim, but he's not ruled out

Pete Sweeney, The Kansas City Star on Sep 12, 2025

Published in Football

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After sitting out Wednesday’s practice, Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy returned Thursday and Friday. The team officially listed Worthy as a “limited” participant in both workouts.

While Worthy continues to progress, it still seems unlikely that he will be healthy enough to take the field Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. He was hurt during the Chiefs’ Week 1 loss to the L.A. Chargers in Brazil when he collided with teammate Travis Kelce.

“Xavier did a little bit of team work (Friday), but that was it,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “I would probably tell you (the chance of Worthy playing) is slim, but there’s still a chance, yeah.”

In the game’s final injury report, the Chiefs designated Worthy as “doubtful,” which indicates a very low chance of playing (usually less than 50%).

After he was injured just three plays into the season opener — Worthy rolled on the ground in agony right after colliding with Kelce — his short-term outlook seemed grim.

But that apparently that isn’t the case.

On Thursday, Worthy wore a right compression sleeve that ran from his right wrist to shoulder area. In Friday’s practice look he shed the sleeve entirely, even making a one-handed grab during the brief portion of practice that was open to media.

“He’s doing very well,” Reid said. “All the stuff’s positive.”

Worthy’s teammates have been impressed with his drive to get back on the field so quickly.

“It says a lot about his character,” fellow receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster said. “He’s a guy that’s been playing through injuries in the past. That’s something that’s preached about.

“Just seeing him out there, catching balls, moving around, it just shows that whether it’s a small injury or big injury, he’s pushing through to be back.”

With Worthy out of the mix, Hollywood Brown and Smith-Schuster would be expected to handle most of Patrick Mahomes’ targets. Tyquan Thornton is a name to watch in terms of stretching the field.

“What tells me (Thornton is) ready is what he’s done in training camp,” offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said this week. “The depth we have from top to bottom is one of the best I’ve ever been around. ... It starts to get depleted a little bit with injuries and other stuff that’s going on.

“But that said, we have guys. They’re on the roster for a reason and they’ve done a great job. So now, they get their opportunity to show who they are.”

Nagy pointed to Thornton’s 38-yard reception as proof of the building trust between Thornton and Mahomes.

“We gotta keep working that trust and then when you get an opportunity, you make a play,” Nagy said. “Tyquan did that on that one corner route — he made a great play with the ball in the air — so we’re gonna keep that going.”

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