One touch into his NFL career, Xavier Worthy was full speed ahead to six.
Worthy, the Kansas City Chiefs' rookie first-round pick, turned in a blazing debut Thursday night, scoring two total touchdowns as he helped KC to a 27-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens in the 2024 NFL Kickoff Game.
"Xavier coming out as a rookie and having a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown, that was beautiful," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said.
Worthy became only the second NFL player to post 20-plus-yard rushing and receiving TDs in his debut, joining Minnesota Vikings replacement player James Brim (1987).
Worthy's dynamic launch came with just three touches for 68 yards. He took an end-around and weaved 21 yards for the Chiefs' first touchdown of the season and later scored on a 35-yard pass from Patrick Mahomes, which stood as the game-winner.
"He's so cool, calm and collected like all the time," Mahomes said. "You can't even see the excitement on him. He goes out there and makes plays. Obviously, we want to continue to use him more and more, but I thought he had a great day today making big plays in big moments. It was good to get the whole offense going and seeing where everyone is at."
From the moment the Chiefs selected Worthy with the 28th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, there was anticipation aplenty and bewilderment in abundance as to why the Buffalo Bills would trade with rival Kansas City to let the it get the Texas sports car in cleats.
Worthy, who sprinted to an NFL Scouting Combine record 4.21-second 40-yard dash, seemed like a perfect fit for a Chiefs offense looking for speed to burn, and the wideout came out blazing on Thursday.
Trailing, 7-0, the Chiefs got on the board with Worthy's first NFL touch. His 21-yard score saw him top out at 18.45 mph when he gained +14 Rushing Yards Over Expected, per Next Gen Stats.
"Man, it was crazy," Worthy said of his first TD. "We ran that in the preseason, and I fumbled. So, it was kind of bad, but for them being able to have that trust in me. I told (offensive coordinator Matt) Nagy that I think this play is going to score and it happened. So, it was an amazing moment my first touchdown in the NFL."
Even though he only touched the ball three times, Worthy's game-breaking presence was and will be a boon for his teammates, according to his quarterback.
"Just having him out there it just opens up stuff," Mahomes said. "You saw when he's out there, they are playing shell coverages. It's getting guys like (Travis Kelce) and guys like Rashee (Rice) open underneath. That's what is so great about this offense. We are able to do all of that and that's when we are at our best. So, when we get Hollywood (Brown) out there too, it's going to be tough for defenses to decide who they want to cover."
Worthy's final touch of the evening was his second catch of the game and it put the Chiefs ahead for good, as his 35-yard sprint to pay dirt led to a 27-17 Kansas City advantage.
Thereafter, Kansas City was able to withstand a Lamar Jackson and Isaiah Likely-led rally.
Mahomes and the Super Bowl champs have a new weapon, though, and it took little time for him to make an emphatic impact.
Buoyed by a sensational debut from their first-round pick, the two-time reigning Super Bowl champions are off and running in 2024.
