Chiefs’ ‘Summer MVP’ hailed as breakout star candidate

The Kansas City Chiefs are just over two months away from kicking off their 2026 NFL season. The Chiefs are hoping that Patrick Mahomes will be healthy and ready to go for the start of the year after tearing his ACL toward the end of last season, a campaign in which Kansas City missed the playoffs altogether.

Recently, NFL insider Jesse Newell of The Athletic reported on the breakout star of the Chiefs’ offseason workouts thus far: wide receiver Xavier Worthy.

“If the Chiefs had a summer practice MVP, it would’ve been Worthy, who flashed consistent chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Worthy also checks many other boxes for a potential breakout player,” reported Newell, noting that “…Worthy played through a torn labrum last season, and coach Andy Reid said the ailment led the team to limit his route tree. Worthy should be back to full strength for Week 1 after offseason surgery.”

Indeed, Worthy dealt with numerous injury issues last season, including one in the very first game of the season, in which a miscommunication with Travis Kelce led to the tight end ramming right into him in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers and knocking him out of the contest.

Worthy has long been heralded for his speed and athleticism, but it seems he has been continuing to refine his skill set this summer and could be a major breakout candidate for the Chiefs heading into his third NFL season. Kansas City will need all of the help it can get in order to rekindle its dynastic magic after a rare down year in 2025.

In any case, the Chiefs are slated to kick off their 2026 NFL season on September 14 at home against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football.