The Kansas City Chiefs received good news Friday that helped ease their concerning injury crisis ahead of the 2025 season.
The Chiefs lost star wide receiver Xavier Worthy to concussion protocol on Wednesday after he took a hit to the head in a brutal training camp collision earlier in the week.
But the wideout made a surprise return to the field Friday as head coach Andy Reid revealed his initial concussion diagnosis was incorrect.
Reid told reporters that while Worthy was in concussion protocol, he ultimately not diagnosed with a concussion and was cleared to return by NFL and Chiefs medical staff.
The head coach revealed that some liquid had worked its way into Worthy’s ear and head area, throwing off his equilibrium.
The 22-year-old suited up and took to the field alongside his teammates Friday morning for a padded practice.
Xavier Worthy was cleared to return for the Chiefs after being deemed not to be concussed
Andy Reid revealed to reporters that some liquid had worked its way into Worthy’s ear
Worthy is a second-year speedster out of Texas who is being counted on to stretch opposing defenses downfield and help create opportunities for quarterback Patrick Mahomes and тιԍнт end Travis Kelce underneath the coverage.
Worthy’s absence would have come as a huge blow for the Chiefs who would have been forced to rely on Hollywood Brown, whose 2024 season was hampered by ankle problems, or Rashee Rice, who is coming off surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL in his right knee.
Brown left practice on a cart Tuesday, leading to more fears for the reigning AFC champions. However, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz has since reported Brown avoided a serious injury and could be back to practice in the coming days.
For Reid, juggling injuries and other uncertainties at receiver has now become an annual occurrence.
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Brown played only two games last season, while Rice and veteran acquisition DeAndre Hopkins were limited to four and 10 games, respectively. Hopkins has since left Kansas City for the rival Baltimore Ravens.
The team still has veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster and in April, Kansas City drafted former Utah State wideout Jalen Royals in the fourth round.
The Chiefs’ injury issues at receiver are exacerbated by a strong AFC West, where the rival Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers are coming off playoff berths.
Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Raiders are encouraged by the arrivals of veteran quarterback Geno Smith and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty, who is coming off an impressive 2,601-yard season with Boise State.
Kansas City opens its season against the Chargers on September 5 before heading into a Super Bowl rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2.
