Why Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy is feeling good after surgery ahead of 2026 season
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- Worthy practiced in a yellow non‑contact jersey and caught passes from Patrick Mahomes.
- Worthy is rehabbing a torn labrum and dislocated right shoulder and getting stronger.
- Worthy hosted a camp for nearly 400 kids and donated $2,000 to Southeast High School.
The Kansas City Chiefs are expecting a big year from 2024 first-round draft pick Xavier Worthy, and the wide receiver who turned 23 in April is preparing accordingly.
Worthy opened voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) with a yellow non-contact jersey but still practiced and caught passes from Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes, who is also in a yellow jersey as he works his way back from a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee.
Worthy tore his labrum and dislocated his right shoulder in last year’s season opener when he collided with Travis Kelce on the third play of the game. Worthy missed four games but played through the injury for the rest of the season with a shoulder brace and collected 532 yards and a touchdown on 42 catches.
At Worthy’s football camp for kids on Saturday, he told reporters he felt good and was “getting better every day” as he rehabs with Chiefs athletic trainer Julie Frymyer.
“Getting stronger, getting better. Mentally stronger,” Worthy said. “Obviously, this game is 90% mental. So just building my mental up and obviously learning more and more as I get older.”
Worthy’s camp played host to nearly 400 local kids and their families at Southeast High School through his foundation, The Worthy 1’s. The foundation also donated $2,000 toward the school’s sports programs.
While at the camp, the Chiefs speedster shared some thoughts about wide receiver teammate Rashee Rice. Rice is serving jail time in Dallas County, Texas, for violating his probation — and also recently underwent a “cleanup” procedure in his right knee.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said the Chiefs will re-integrate Rice into the team’s preparations once he is released from jail.
“That’s my guy,” Worthy said. “I’ve been talking to him every day, so I’m just praying for him.”
Reid was encouraged by how Worthy has practiced through OTAs so far.
“It’s great for him to be able to detail things, and he’s working like crazy at it,” Reid said of Worthy on Thursday. “I think he feels more comfortable now. He had a couple of things cleaned out there (surgically), so he’s just feeling good about that, and I think he’s in a good spot. We just don’t want to take any steps back.”
Even Worthy’s mother, Nicki Jones, has recognized the growth her son has shown in his young NFL career.
“As a mom, I’m watching him mature. I see how he’s handling things in the offseason,” Jones told reporters Saturday.
She is the co-founder of Worthy 1’s, which aims to serve women and children in need.
“I’m watching him tell me about his different meal plans ...” she said. “He’s just taking like this whole next step in his little adult career life, and I’m here for it. I love it.”
This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 3:25 PM.
