It didn’t take long for rookie wideout Xavier Worthy to showcase how dangerous he can be in the Kansas City Chiefs offense.
With 5:55 left in the first quarter and the Chiefs trailing the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL season opener 7-0, Worthy announced his presence, not through the air, but on the ground. The former Texas standout sped past the defense on an end-around, taking it to the house for a 21-yard touchdown.
For the 21-year-old, the rushing touchdown was a first. Over three seasons playing for the Longhorns, Worthy carried the ball seven times for 56 yards, but never found the end zone.
Worthy finished among the top five in the Big 12 in receiving yards each season at Texas, so the belief was he’d be most impactful through the passing game in Kansas City. However, the wrinkle shown by head coach Andy Reid on Thursday proves that the Chiefs plan to find unique ways to use the rookie’s speed to their advantage.
The No. 28 pick in this year’s draft has a chance to be a difference-maker at wideout alongside 2023 second-rounder Rashee Rice, something quarterback Patrick Mahomes predicted. Ahead of Week 1, the two-time MVP lauded the rookie’s work ethic while stating, “he’s going to make a lot of big impact plays for us.”