The Kansas City Chiefs began the 2025 regular season without wide receivers Rashee Rice (suspended) and Jalen Royals (knee tendinitis), and then quickly lost fellow WR Xavier Worthy to a shoulder injury in Week 1.
Fortunately, Royals and Worthy appear to be close to returning from injury, and Kansas City relayed a significant update on the former on September 18.
“Chiefs WR Jalen Royals (knee) [was] upgraded to a full participant Thursday after [a] limited [practice] yesterday,” Chiefs Digest beat reporter Matt Derrick noted on X after KC released their latest daily Week 3 injury report.
Unfortunately, Worthy was still listed as a “limited” participant on Thursday, with just Friday and Saturday to go before the Sunday Night Football matchup with the New York Giants.
To be clear, that doesn’t necessarily mean that Worthy won’t suit up in Week 3, but the September 18 update is a very good sign that the Chiefs’ 2025 fourth-round pick, Royals, will finally make his regular season NFL debut.
Dubbed as a mini-me of Rice throughout the spring and summer, it’ll be interesting to see how head coach Andy Reid deploys Royals on Sunday night, assuming he plays. Will he only serve in a limited role as a returner and substitute wide receiver, or will the Chiefs choose to throw him right into action immediately, utilizing him in a role similar to Rice?
2 Chiefs Are Trending Toward Missing Week 3 vs. Giants
There was good news and bad news on Thursday. Royals and Worthy qualify as the positive portion of this Week 3 injury update, but there was a more negative realization, too.
Per Derrick and the Chiefs’ official injury report, defensive end Mike Danna (quad) and cornerback Kristian Fulton (ankle) did not practice once again, as both are now in serious danger of missing Week 3.
Chiefs WR Jalen Royals (knee) upgraded to a full participant Thursday after limited yesterday. DE Mike Danna (quad) and CB Kristian Fulton (ankle) did not practice.
WR Xavier Worthy (shoulder) and RT Jawaan Taylor (knee/ankle) limited. Taylor’s work reduced due to practicing… pic.twitter.com/lTYPRYi4IN
— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) September 18, 2025
According to Pro Football Focus, Fulton only managed 2 defensive snaps in Week 2, while Danna was sidelined after just 3 defensive snaps. The 2025 free agent addition, Fulton, was only on the field for 15 defensive snaps in the regular season opener as well.
Fulton’s KC career is off to a rough start after he missed most of training camp working his way back from a knee operation. Now, it’s an ankle injury that’s preventing the big-money signing from contributing on Sundays.
Opposite of Fulton during his brief tenure with the Chiefs, Danna has been quietly consistent and reliable over the years. However, his Week 2 quad injury seems troublesome enough to potentially keep him off the field against the Giants.
Rookies Ashton Gillotte (DE) and Nohl Williams (CB) earned more snaps in Week 2 with Fulton and Danna ruled out, but the Chiefs also utilized three safeties — with Chamarri Conner in the slot — more often than not without their third cornerback starter.
Chiefs Will Hope Xavier Worthy Returns From Injury Alongside Jalen Royals
Getting Royals back is nice, but it’d be even better if Worthy and Royals retake the field together in Week 3.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes hasn’t gotten enough separation from his pass-catchers over the first two weeks of football, and the speed and route-running of Worthy and Royals should help take some of the pressure off the two-time NFL MVP.
That could then open up things for players like Travis Kelce, Hollywood Brown, and Tyquan Thornton on deep shots. Not to mention the struggling run game should also benefit from opposing defenses paying more attention to the passing attack.
At the end of the day, it all works hand-in-hand, and getting Worthy and Royals back would do wonders for this KC offense on Sunday night.
