The Kansas City Chiefs are in desperate need of a win this week and are facing the AFC’s top team, but got a major boost in the hours before the game kicks off.
The Chiefs had a chance to claw their way back into contention in the AFC West last week as they faced the division-leading Denver Broncos, but a 22-19 loss dropped them to 3.5 games back — and caused them to fall out of the playoff bracket entirely.
The Chiefs got some big news before facing the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, with a late report that one of the team’s most dangerous offensive weapons will be back on the field.
Chiefs Get Speedy Receiver Back
Late on Saturday, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport shared some major news on speedy receiver Xavier Worthy.
“#Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy, listed as questionable with an ankle injury, is expected to go Sunday, source said,” Rapoport wrote in a post on X.
Worthy tweaked an existing ankle injury in last week’s loss to the Broncos and was held out of practice to start the week. He showed steady signs of improvement, returning to practice first on a limited basis and then in full on Friday.
Though the team gave Worthy a questionable designation for Sunday’s game, all signs pointed to him playing and Rapoport’s report seemed to confirm it.
The Chiefs have not seen their top two receivers on the field together much this season, as Rashee Rice had a six-game suspension to start the year. Worthy has been inconsistent at times, making 27 receptions for 281 yards and one touchdown — well below the pace of his rookie season in 2024.
Worthy playing on Sunday could be critical for Mahomes, who put blame on himself after last week’s loss to the Broncos and said he needed to do a better job of getting the ball to his playmakers.
“I think we’re really talented and we’ve got a lot of great players, but it’s about being more consistent. I think it starts with me,” Mahomes said. “There’s times where I’m firing and we’re moving the ball down the field at ease. But there’s times where we go in spurts where I miss a throw or a protection call.â
Chiefs Missing Another Key Player
While Worthy is expected to be in the lineup against the Colts, the Chiefs are down another key player after head coach Andy Reid said running back Isiah Pacheco would be ruled out.
Reid told reporters on Friday that the running back was able to get some work in practice, but was not yet recovered enough from the MCL sprain he suffered in Week 8.
âNo, it wasnât a setback,â Reid said. âWe were just kind of seeing where he was at. Trying to give him some work. He did some scout team stuff and running around â it was literally just to see where he was at. And I think heâs coming out feeling pretty good right now, so thatâs a plus.â
After falling to 5-5 with last week’s loss, the Chiefs need a win to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot.
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