The Kansas City Chiefs should be without starting receiver Xavier Worthy for at least a few days, as he’s entered the NFL’s concussion protocol, the team announced Wednesday.
Worthy, who led KC’s receiver position with 59 catches and 638 yards as a rookie last season, injured his head during Tuesday’s practice when trying to extend for a deep reception down the sideline.
The Chiefs had other wideouts leave Tuesday’s practice, too.
Veteran Hollywood Brown exited drills following an ankle injury, though coach Andy Reid indicated Tuesday that he didn’t believe that ailment to be serious. Fourth-year pro Skyy Moore also came out early after hurting his hamstring.
Both Brown and Moore did not participate in Wednesday’s shorter practice at Missouri Western.
Add all these dings up, and the Chiefs could start to have concerns with receiver depth as they prepare for their Sept. 5 opening game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Top receiver Rashee Rice hasn’t missed any practice work, but he’s also expected to be suspended soon by the NFL after getting sentenced two weeks ago for his role in a Dallas high-speed car crash.
Worthy was the team’s clear No. 2 wide receiver before he entered concussion protocols this week, while Brown also is a projected starter if he can stay healthy — something that’s been an issue throughout his seven-year career.
JuJu Smith-Schuster remains part of the depth chart as a role player. Also, KC is getting longer looks at Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Royals, who both have earned extensive time with the starters.
Thornton, who joined the Chiefs’ practice squad last November, was a 2022 second- round pick of the New England Patriots who is known for his speed.
Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said earlier this week that he was pleased with Thornton’s progress since last season.
“Now that he’s had a little bit more time to marinate in this offense, he comes here now during the summertime, and you can see he’s playing a lot faster,” Nagy said. “We’re getting to see what he can do.”
Royals, meanwhile, is a fourth-round rookie out of Utah State. Reid said earlier this camp that Royals has characteristics more similar to Rice, in that he has a stout lower body and is strong overall.
Nagy also said he’d seen noticeable development from Royals since summer practices.
“There’s some little things he’s doing within his routes, whether it’s in zone or winning versus man. So he’s doing some good things,” Nagy said. “We want to keep making him grow, leading him through what he sees. I think he’s a visualizer, so when he sees it, it takes him one time, then the next time he comes back and does a good job.”
If the past is any indication, Royals should experience some growing pains along the way.
KC saw those from both Rice and Worthy early in their respective rookie years. Each then took significant steps forward late while emerging in the final weeks of the regular season.
Because of the complex nature of the Chiefs’ offense, Nagy said Royals was still at a point in his evolution where he was most concerned with lining up correctly.
“He’s not seeing the defense right now. That’s OK. That’s normal,” Nagy said. “Xavier was there (his rookie year). Rashee was there before.”
Jason Brownlee, who previously played for the Jets, and return specialist Nikko Remigio are other options for the Chiefs at receiver.
The team’s overall injury list continues to grow, as well. In addition to Worthy, Brown and Moore, seven other Chiefs missed Wednesday’s practice: cornerbacks Kristian Fulton (knee), Darius Rush (hamstring) and Eric Scott (knee); right tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee); linebacker Jeffrey Bassa (ankle); tight end Jake Briningstool (hamstring); and safety Deon Bush (hamstring).
