Chiefs Training Camp Takeaways, Day 14: Xavier Worthy taking next step in his development, dark horse LB continues to impress
Our top takeaways from Day 14 of Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp.
The Kansas City Chiefs wrapped up their final training camp practice of the week on Thursday as they’ll head to Arizona on Saturday to take on the Cardinals in Week 1 of the preseason.
A couple of key players returned from injury in linebacker Drue Tranquill (back) and cornerback Kristian Fulton (knee). Today was Fulton’s first action on the practice field since the beginning of training camp as he has been on the PUP list. Wide receivers Hollywood Brown (ankle) and Rashee Rice (groin) sat out on Thursday, as did tight end Jake Briningstool (hamstring) and linebacker Cam Jones (unknown).
WR Xavier Worthy is ready to take the league by storm
With Rice and Brown sidelined, Worthy has been the No. 1 WR in the Chiefs’ offense, just as he was for most of last season. He made several standout plays on Thursday, including outmaneuvering CB Trent McDuffie on this sharply ran route (H/T Christian Ainsworth).
Worthy and McDuffie have had a lot of competitive reps against each other throughout camp. Later during 11-on-11 team work, Worthy caught this deep bomb from quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Worthy came on strong towards the end of last season, and it appears he has carried over that momentum into camp. At this time last year he was more of a gadget player, but Worthy is now a polished route runner. He’ll have the opportunity to establish himself as one of the most dangerous WRs in the league in 2025.
LB Cooper McDonald is making a strong case to make the 53-man roster
You weren’t alone if you didn’t know who McDonald was before camp, but it is now time to put him on your radar. He signed with K.C. as an undrafted free agent out of TCU this past spring. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo had high praise for McDonald at the begging of camp.
““Coop (Cooper McDonald) was a really good find,” Spagnuolo said after practice on Wednesday. “If you remember, we got him in the rookie minicamp as a three-day tryout guy, and I thought in the one-on-ones against the running backs he did a nice job yesterday.”
During practice today, McDonald picked off backup QB Gardner Minshew (H/T Matt Derrick).
McDonald has a real shot to make the 53-man roster as a backup LB and special teams contributor. Preseason games will be huge for him, but he has the inside track as of now.
A new wrinkle added to the iconic Corndog play
By now you’re surely familiar with the iconic Corndog play, which helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl LVII. The Chiefs have ran the play a handful of times since then, but added a new wrinkle to it during today’s practice.
Instead of throwing to Worthy as he would normally do on that play, Mahomes found TE Jared Wiley in space. Normally Wiley would be the one clearing space for Worthy, but this time the roles were reversed. These things keep defenses guessing and makes the Chiefs’ offense unpredictable.
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