Some first-round picks can be developed more gradually.
The Kansas City Chiefs, however, don’t appear to be taking the slow route with their 2024 first-round selection: wide receiver Xavier Worthy. It’s become clear that they expect him to be ready sooner rather than later.
Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes told reporters on Tuesday that there’s “no easing” in the rookie speedster and that Worthy is going to have to "be ready to go to” from the start. The rookie agreed with Mahomes’ assessment.
“Yeah, I definitely feel like there’s no time to ease in,” Worthy told reporters on Wednesday. “It’s all go. Once you’re here, you’re here. I understand definitely what Pat’s saying, and just to build that connection with him is going to be key here.”
The Chiefs are gunning for a third straight Super Bowl title, but winning again without more firepower at receiver might be a tall order. Although they also added Hollywood Brown to the position this offseason, there’s still a need for Worthy to get up to speed quickly, as the Chiefs are waiting to hear whether Rashee Rice will face a suspension this season following an automobile crash that resulted in multiple charges this summer.
Worthy suffered through a hamstring injury this spring that kept him out of action until the first day of training camp, and he even missed a few plays Wednesday with what appeared to be a jammed finger before returning to action.
The NFL Scouting Combine's 40-yard dash king admitted that the hamstring injury was frustrating to him since he’d never missed a game in college because of injury but later said the hamstring is fine, even while he was seen practicing with a wrap on his left hamstring. Worthy said being sidelined this spring forced him to "learn and get better in a different way" while sitting out OTAs, but he’s ready to go now, even if he admitted not quite being 100 percent healthy.
"Feeling good,” he said. “Working my way back in today, it felt good just to be back out here with the guys and just being able to play football again."
The Chiefs are teaching Worthy all the different receiver spots in the offense, starting with the slot before trying to master the “Z” and “X” positions. Worthy said he’s been picking the brain of offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, wanting to absorb the toughest parts of the offense, including all the intricacies of the playbook, the various formations and the timing of the plays.
His goal in camp?
"Be the best me, just be the best version of myself,” Worthy said. “I feel like if I do that, I'll be in a good spot.”
Mahomes spent some time talking to the Chiefs’ rookies on Wednesday, and the message was simple and direct.
“Keep going, keep making plays, keep working,” Worthy said. “That’s all it was.”