Getty Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and wide receiver Xavier Worthy.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ offense has not been the same without star wide receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, but the latter’s injury is not all bad, according to head coach Andy Reid, as it has strengthened the chemistry between Patrick Mahomes and KC’s alternative pass-catching options.

“I think one of the great things [about the early WR absences] is that Pat [Mahomes has] been able to get some gametime with a couple of guys that he didn’t have a lot of gametime with between Hollywood [Brown] and [Tyquan Thornton],” Reid told reporters ahead of Week 4, as he shared an unexpected silver lining of Rice and Worthy’s respective absences.

Reid added that he actually thinks it’s a “positive thing,” despite most seeing it as a negative.

“Then, when [Rice and Worthy] come in, [Mahomes has] experience with them,” the Chiefs HC continued. “So, I look at the production of the other two guys — Hollywood and Thornton — and I think that’s a real positive for the team going down the road here.”

This is a wise message from the three-time Super Bowl champion head coach. While some around the KC community might try to convince you that the sky is falling at a 1-2 record, Reid is looking at the “positives” of the Chiefs’ current offensive predicament.

The other good news is that these absences won’t last forever. Worthy could return as soon as this weekend, as the Chiefs gear up for a massive AFC showdown with the Baltimore Ravens. And Rice is on track to return as soon as his suspension ends in Week 7.

That gives Kansas City and its offense plenty of time to rebound from the initial 0-2 start.

Chiefs’ Andy Reid Provides Brief Week 4 Update on Xavier Worthy Injury

Reid didn’t give too much information on Worthy on September 24, but he did provide the briefest of updates. For starters, the Chiefs HC noted that everyone was practicing on Wednesday, ahead of Week 4.

Per Chiefs Digest beat reporter Matt Derrick, Worthy actually logged a “full” practice on September 24, while defensive end Mike Danna and cornerback Kristian Fulton were “limited.” So, Worthy’s shoulder is clearly trending in the right direction.

As for what Reid had to say, the Chiefs head coach simply responded, “yeah,” when asked if he’s seen enough from Worthy to say that the “optimism level” has grown for a Week 4 return.

After a follow-up, Reid added the following:

“Yeah, well, I mean, we’ll just evaluate him and take it day by day. He feels good, so we’ll see.”

Barring some sort of setback, it certainly seems like Worthy will attempt to suit up against the Ravens.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Says He’s Asked His Wide Receivers to Hold Him ‘Accountable’

When you rise to the elite status that Mahomes has, teammates typically praise you rather than critique you. But Mahomes made it clear that he wants his wide receivers and playmakers to hold him “accountable” in 2025.

“I think, just with the guys that we have, I’ve kind of put it on myself to give guys chances down the field,” Mahomes voiced on September 24, speaking just after Reid.

“Even though we haven’t performed offensively as a whole, I think the entire year so far — as far as [efficiency] and scoring points the way we want to — we’ve kind of made it an emphasis to give guys chances down the field to make plays, and guys have made those plays,” he explained.

Continuing: “That started in training camp, that started in OTAs. I told guys to hold me accountable, and I wanted to hold myself accountable that I give the guys the chances to make plays, and they’re proving that they can make them.”

Throughout his Wednesday presser, Mahomes consistently took full responsibility for any and all early offensive miscues, expressing that he needs to do better. After all, that’s the mark of a true leader, and Mahomes has always led the Chiefs by example both on and off the field.

Michael Obermuller covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, where he began writing in 2021. His areas of focus include the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers, with expert knowledge on each based on years of coverage. Michael is an NYC area native and Quinnipiac graduate. More about Michael Obermuller

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