Chiefs HC Andy Reid's comments on Xavier Worthy's trajectory should get fans excited for the near future
The Kansas City Chiefs are pleased with what they've got from their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft so far this season. Xavier Worthy has been called upon a bit more frequently than perhaps initially designed due to the injuries to WRs Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice. In Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints, […]
The Kansas City Chiefs are pleased with what they've got from their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft so far this season.
Xavier Worthy has been called upon a bit more frequently than perhaps initially designed due to the injuries to WRs Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice. In Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints, the team's first full game without Rice, Worthy played his most snaps in a single game in his NFL career.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Chiefs HC Andy Reid implied the rookie possesses untapped potential to do even more within the offense.
“I think Xavier’s (Worthy) has done a nice job for us; he does a lot of things there for us," Reid said on Monday. "(He plays) a lot of different positions, we have flexibility with him to move him around. He’s a quick learner which helps in this offense. I’m happy with what we’ve got so far and I don’t think we’ve tapped that out at all. He’ll keep getting better and that’s exciting.”
Being a quick learner is an important aspect of producing early as a receiver in Andy Reid's offense. A season ago, we saw Rashee Rice go through a season-long progression and set records for a rookie receiver under Coach Reid. Worthy's on that same track, already producing at a non-standard pace.
Through five games this season, Worthy has 12 receptions for 179 yards and two receiving touchdowns. He also has six carries for 62 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Only Marvin Harrison Jr. has more touchdowns than Worthy among rookie receivers so far this season.
Worthy's total scrimmage production through five games, as 810 Sports Radio host Soren Petro pointed out, is more than former Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill had as a rookie in 2016. Of course, Hill also had 12 punt returns for 197 yards and two touchdowns in his first five games and Worthy hasn't yet contributed on special teams in that way. It's not that he can't, as Dave Toub maintains he could still be used on special teams.
There's a lot to like about Worthy's production so far, even without contributions on special teams. As Reid says, he's playing the X, Z, and Zebra within the team's offensive scheme and we know he's getting open deep. It seems like only a matter of time before he breaks out and has a big single-game performance, catching multiple deep passes. With the injuries at the wide receiver position, he should only continue to carve out a greater role on the offensive side of the ball.