Andy Reid explains why Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy did not travel to face the Giants
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Xavier Worthy remained sidelined with shoulder issues despite practice activity.
- Jalen Royals returned to practice but didn’t play in KC’s win over the Giants.
- Suspended receiver Rashee Rice may return to team facility but not to practices.
Xavier Worthy had the look of someone ready to return to action, but he didn’t make the trip. Jalen Royals got as far as the stadium, but didn’t play.
Last week, it appeared the Chiefs’ wide receiver group would grow by a couple of returning players, but it didn’t work out when they visited the New York Giants on Sunday.
“He was real positive coming in,” Reid said of Worthy. “Mentally, he was saying, ‘I’m going to play in the game.’ You have to take that approach with that type of injury.”
Worthy suffered a shoulder injury on the third snap of the season, against the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil. The Chiefs didn’t put him on injured reserve, leaving open his possible return in a few weeks.
The Chiefs’ leading wide receiver returned to practice before the Chiefs met the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2, and was listed as limited in the week leading up to the Giants.
“It just wasn’t right,” Reid said. “Between Xavier and the doctors and so on, we thought it was best he didn’t play.”
Rookie Jalen Royals, dealing with knee tendinitis, progressed to full practice participation on Thursday and Friday, according to the team’s official injury report. But he didn’t make his NFL debut against the Giants. He traveled with the team, but he and reserve quarterback Gardner Minshew were the only players who didn’t get a snap in the Chiefs’ 22-9 victory.
“Jalen just came back,” Reid said. “I had him there as kind of an emergency in case we absolutely needed him. His first week of practice in a month was last week. And he’s a rookie. This was really his first game, suiting up. He’ll continue to work in there. It’s great to have him back.”
Rashee Rice, who is sitting out the first six games with a suspension for violating the NFL’s conduct policy, can return to the practice facility this week. But Rice can’t practice or be on the field.
“The guys will be fired up about that, to see him,” Reid said. “Just having him around, he’s good, positive energy to have around.”
The Chiefs play host to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.