The Kansas City Chiefs promised a different season for Xavier Worthy. They said the wait was over. Now, the results are hard to ignore. After a rookie year that showed flashes of brilliance, the 2026 campaign has started with a whimper instead of a bang. Although the squad claimed all offseason that this season would be distinct, the playing field now tells another tale.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Worthy entered the season with high hopes after finishing his first year. He was supposed to be the spark the offense needed. Instead, he has been a ghost in the first two games. In the season opener against Denver, he caught just three passes. The next week against Indianapolis, he added five catches and a single touchdown. The speed that made him legendary at the combine, clocking a 4.21-second 40-yard dash, has not translated to big plays. The wisdom was “you can’t hurt what you can’t catch,” but Worthy isn’t getting open enough to even test that theory.
A Make-or-Break Year Stalls
This was labeled a make-or-break campaign for the former Texas standout. He needed to prove he could return to form after shoulder and ankle injuries limited him to 14 games last season. Those ailments were bad enough, but the lack of production now is worse. He has just one touchdown on the year so far. The offense is moving, but Worthy is not part of the plan. As Brandon Kiley of Arrowhead Pride noted via Bleacher Report, the Chiefs offense doesn’t need Worthy to step up the way it once did, but it sure would be nice if he could. The fans wanted to see the player from the second half of 2024, not the one struggling in 2026.
Contrast With Other Stars
The frustration is even sharper when looking at other new additions. While Worthy struggles, Kenneth Walker III is thriving. Walker joined the Chiefs on a three-year, $43 million contract and has accumulated 290 rushing yards across two games. Ex-Raiders signal-caller Derek Carr lamented allowing the Chiefs to acquire such a premier player. The contrast is stark. One new weapon is dominating the league, while the other is stuck in a deep hole. Worthy needs to find his rhythm fast, or the “different” season the Chiefs promised will look like just another disappointment.
