Kansas City Chiefs make several key roster decisions for Week 3 tilt with New York Giants, including ruling out WR Xavier Worthy
The Kansas City Chiefs ruled out WR Xavier Worthy, made a practice squad elevation, and signaled that another WR will make his NFL debut.
The Kansas City Chiefs have made several roster decisions ahead of their Week 3 game against the New York Giants on “Sunday Night Football.”
After three limited practice sessions this week, second-year WR Xavier Worthy was initially given a questionable game status designation. On Saturday morning, the team officially ruled him out. He won’t travel with the team to New York as he continues to deal with a torn labrum as a result of a dislocated shoulder in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid spoke about Worthy after practice on Friday before the final injury report was released.
“I’m just (going to) say, (we will) see how it goes here,” Chiefs HC Andy Reid said of Worthy on Friday. “I’ve got to see – see how he (Xavier Worthy) did after practice here. I haven’t talked to him. I haven’t talked to (Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance) Rick (Burkholder) or him about it.”
Reid was asked how Worthy looked in practice this week, but didn’t provide a detailed answer.
“He’s (Xavier Worthy) done a nice job,” Reid said. “He runs fast.”
This feels like the Chiefs are simply playing it safe with Worthy and don’t yet think that the risk (reinjury) is worth the reward.
“I leave it up to the doctors and Rick (Burkholder),” Reid said. “Whatever they say or we practice with them or practice without them. That’s how it goes. We don’t – whatever goes.”
Chiefs elevate CB Kevin Knowles from practice squad for the second consecutive week
With CB Kristian Fulton also ruled out, the Chiefs elevated CB Kevin Knowles from the practice squad for the second consecutive week. Knowles played just 10 special teams snaps in Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles and recorded one tackle. He, of course, had a blocked PAT in Week 3 of the preseason against the Chicago Bears. He’s also capable of playing the nickel cornerback position, which is an area where Kansas City doesn’t have a whole lot of depth.
Knowles has just one practice squad elevation left for the 2025 regular season. Each player is only allowed to be elevated a maximum of three times in the regular season before teams must sign them to the 53-man roster to elevate them from the practice squad for gameday.
During the playoffs, practice squad elevations reset. There is no limit to the number of times a player can be elevated during the postseason.
Chiefs rookie WR Jalen Royals is tracking to make his NFL debut Week 3 vs. Giants
The Chiefs did not make any changes to the status of rookie WR Jalen Royals, who has been out of practice with knee tendinitis for several weeks now. He’s tracking to make his NFL debut after two consecutive full practices on Thursday and Friday.
It’d be a welcome development for the passing game in Kansas City, which has struggled in the first few weeks of the season. Royals was expected to play a similar role to WR Rashee Rice while the third-year wideout sits out due to suspension, but that obviously hasn’t happened yet, as Royals has been injured.
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