In the 2025 season, the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense was unrecognizable from previous years, finishing 6-11 with no active WR surpassing 600 yards. Looking at 2026, WR Xavier Worthy could be the solution to this problem as he came closest even last year.

AtoZ Sports NFL Managing Editor Charles Goldman considers Worthy to be the player with the biggest breakout potential for Kansas City in 2026. He explained that if Worthy struggles at all in 2025, it will solely be due to injury with no impact on his talent.

"The truth is that calling his 2025 NFL season a sophomore slump is malpractice," Goldman wrote for AtoZ Sports on July 13, 2026. "...A clean offseason, recovering from injury while also building strength, resets his projections entirely."

On the opening drive of Week 1 in 2025, Worthy dislocated his shoulder and completely tore his labrum, and opted to play 14 more games instead of ending his season.

His stats: 42 receptions, 532 yards, and one touchdown, do not show a regression. This shows his injury was significant, per Charles Goldman of AtoZ Sports.

HC Andy Reid confirmed the injury forced the staff to limit Worthy's route tree throughout the season. During his 2024 rookie campaign, Worthy posted 59 receptions, 638 yards, and six touchdowns.

Worthy had shoulder surgery and has bulked up over the offseason to help with durability and with grabbing passes over the middle of the field.

With Bieniemy back as offensive coordinator, Worthy now has a creative scheme builder who has worked with his type of speedy talent in players like Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman, as well as knowing how to get Worthy the ball.

Though Worthy's numbers took a hit from his 638 yards in his rookie season to 532 last year, he averaged an impressive 12.7 yards per run. What stood out, though, was his one receiving touchdown compared to 2024's six.

Rashee Rice has had an injury and off-field problems before training camp. Because of this, Worthy's opportunity to become Mahomes' main deep threat has become much greater.

Chiefs face wide-open competition for targets after key offseason departures

Kansas City let go of a number of players, and this offseason, the runway opened up wide. Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster are both gone. 

KC Kingdom's Nick Halden spoke about how this was a good decision and could open the door for Worthy in the near future.

"Parting ways with Hollywood Brown was a wise decision, as the veteran clearly is not the guy he once was," Halden noted on Jul 11 in his report. "...If things go according to plan, it will be a combination of Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy making up."

Brown led the Chiefs in multiple categories, including targets (74), scrimmage yards (587), and departures, and has aligned his given role to Rice and Worthy.

While Rice is the main target in the offense, Worthy will want to step up in his third year and gain some trust from Kansas City.

Do you think Xavier Worthy can impress in 2026 for the Chiefs? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Abhay Bharti

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote