The Kansas City Chiefs are in the thick of a playoff push, and every snap matters as they head into a critical Week 15 showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers. But just as they gear up for this must-win divisional clash, there’s been a bit of a scare with wide receiver Xavier Worthy.
The 22-year-old speedster found himself in concussion protocol after taking a hit early in the game. He was targeted once by Patrick Mahomes but didn’t record a catch before exiting. For a Chiefs offense that’s been searching for consistency all season, losing a weapon like Worthy-even briefly-was less than ideal.
The good news? Worthy has officially cleared concussion protocol and is back in the mix.
That’s a big sigh of relief for Mahomes and the Kansas City sideline. With the postseason still within reach but far from guaranteed, having all hands on deck is crucial-and Worthy’s elite speed gives this offense a dynamic edge, even if the numbers haven’t always reflected it this year.
Worthy’s second NFL season hasn’t matched the breakout impact of his rookie campaign, where he found the end zone nine times. Heading into Week 15, he’d tallied 38 receptions for 456 yards and just one touchdown.
It’s been a quieter year statistically, but his role in the offense remains significant. Defenses have to respect his ability to stretch the field, and that opens things up for everyone else-something that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet.
Now that he’s cleared to return, all eyes will be on how he responds. Can he shake off the early exit and make an impact down the stretch?
The Chiefs are hoping so. Because if Worthy can get back to being that vertical threat he was as a rookie, it could be the spark this offense needs at just the right time.