The Kansas City Chiefs, for the second straight year, had a rookie come in and become an incredible contributor. Last year, Rashee Rice improved his route running throughout the season before developing into an elite playmaker after the catch.
This season, the style might be vastly different, but speedster Xavier Worthy and his explosive plays have given Kansas City a unique edge to their offense. Now, as he gears up for his first Super Bowl, Pro Football Network asked him one simple question during a media night for the Chiefs.
Xavier Worthy on the Super Bowl
Throughout the year, Worthy has been developing into an elite threat for Kansas City, especially in the end zone. When they face off against the Philadelphia Eagles in a rematch from two years ago, the team will hope to get some similarly explosive plays from their rookie wide receiver.
When asked if he’d prefer a 50-yard touchdown catch or a screen and touchdown, Worthy couldn’t immediately make up his mind. “50-yard touchdown. No, how’s the screen look? Am I juking a lot of people?”
Assuming that the routes were similar in both instances, he had his mind finally made up: “Screen to the house.” It would allow Worthy to showcase his excellent speed and the ability to find his space through defenders as he’s been developing throughout the year.
Even though he started slow, he had 59 catches for 638 yards on an average of 10.8 yards per catch in the 2024 regular season. Additionally, his red-zone prowess has been blossoming, with six touchdowns to his name.
His speed has also been an asset on the ground where the Chiefs have used him in trick plays, reverses, and jet sweeps. He scored three additional touchdowns with his 20 carries.
However, his improvement is more clearly visible in the postseason. After a relatively quiet 45-yard, no-touchdown game against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round, the rook exploded against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game.
Tallying 85 yards on just seven targets and a touchdown while adding 16 rushing yards to his total, Worthy crossed the 100-total-scrimmage-yards mark. After Rice went down in the first month of the season, the responsibility on Worthy’s shoulders only went up. Slowly but surely, he’s developed his chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and is now good for an explosive play at a moment’s notice.
Let’s see if his dream of a 50-yard screen and run for a touchdown comes true in New Orleans.