The Kansas City Chiefs were already shorthanded at receiver going into the season, with Rashee Rice serving a six-game suspension.
They got even thinner on the first drive of the season.
On a third down in the Chiefs’ season opener at Brazil against the Los Angeles Chargers, receiver Xavier Worthy and tight end Travis Kelce collided as each ran crossing routes over the middle. Kelce is much larger than Worthy, and Worthy caught the worst of it.
The Chiefs training staff seemed to be looking at Worthy’s right shoulder as he came to the sideline, then during the Chargers’ first drive he was seen being walked back to the locker room for more evaluation. The Chiefs announced he was questionable to return with a shoulder injury.
Worthy, a second-year receiver who was Kansas City’s first-round pick last year, was expected to play a huge role with Rice out. Three plays into the season, that became a big question.