Xavier Worthy's return brings much-needed juice to Chiefs offense

After struggling through the first three weeks of the season, averaging just 20 points per game, it was pretty obvious that the Kansas City Chiefs offense was missing something. That something turned out to be wide receiver Xavier Worthy. His presence was felt in a major way in the Chiefs' emphatic 37-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

Worthy's return brings much-needed juice to Chiefs offense

Worthy was injured just three plays into the 2025 season in a collision with teammate Travis Kelce, and his absence turned out to be a brutal blow to a wide receiver room that was already lacking in quality depth. Especially with their other starting wide receiver, Rashee Rice, serving a six-game suspension. 

They were finally able to get Worthy back on Sunday, and he played a key role in helping the offense finally play up to its usual standard. 

In terms of box score numbers, it was not anything overly dominant. He caught five passes for 83 yards, including a 37-yard strike down the sidelines. He also ran the ball twice for 38 yards, including a long run of 35 yards. 

Overall, he accounted for 121 yards of total offense and had three plays of 20 yards or more. He not only brought a big-play dynamic that the Chiefs' offense had been desperately lacking over the first three weeks of the season, but there was also a trickle-down effect to the rest of the offense.

Just the threat of him on the field and the attention he requires from opposing defenses opens things up for every other wide receiver — and player — on the Chiefs offense. 

It is not a coincidence that his return produced by far the Chiefs' best offensive performance of the season.

Patrick Mahomes completed 25-of-37 passes for 270 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions, while also completing passes to nine different players. 

Now the Chiefs are back to .500, have a manageable schedule ahead and will be getting Rice back in two weeks. Suddenly, the entire outlook for the Chiefs season changes, and all it took was them getting back one of their best players.