On Wednesday’s New Heights podcast, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce described a “frustrating” in-game collision that knocked rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy to the sideline during the Chiefs’ 27–21 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil. Kelce said he was trying to set up a defender while running a route and acknowledged he should have avoided contact; Worthy left the play with a right shoulder injury and did not return for most of the game. Head coach Andy Reid later said surgery and the injured reserve designation were not being considered at that time, and Worthy’s status was described as day to day. The injury removed a top offensive weapon — the Chiefs’ leading receiver as a rookie — and Kelce said the incident changed the flow of the game.
Key takeaways
- Travis Kelce publicly accepted responsibility for colliding with Xavier Worthy on a play in the Chiefs’ 27–21 loss to the Chargers in Brazil on Friday; Kelce called the play “frustrating.”
- Xavier Worthy was ruled out after the play with a right shoulder injury and missed the majority of the contest; head coach Andy Reid later indicated neither surgery nor injured reserve was planned at that moment.
- The absence of Worthy removed a top downfield threat; Kelce said Worthy “had his guy beat” and that the play likely altered how the game unfolded offensively.
- Rashee Rice remains unavailable due to a six-game suspension stemming from a March 2024 incident, leaving Worthy as a key target entering 2025.
- Reid confirmed on Wednesday that Worthy and rookie receiver Jalen Royals would not practice that day and were being monitored day to day.
- Kelce said the collision affected his own rhythm and the team’s start, calling it one of the most frustrating aspects of the season opener.
Background
The Chiefs traveled to São Paulo, Brazil, for their season-opening matchup with the Chargers, a game that carried both international attention and high stakes for Kansas City’s offense. Xavier Worthy emerged as the Chiefs’ leading receiver during his rookie season and entered 2025 as a centerpiece of a passing attack that is missing Rashee Rice for the first six games due to suspension. The offensive game plan relied heavily on speed and vertical threat, traits Worthy provided; losing that element forced the Chiefs to adjust coverage and play-calling in real time.
Travis Kelce, a 13-year veteran and one of the team’s most experienced leaders, has traditionally been a stabilizing presence for the offense. The collision occurred early enough that Kelce later described the aftermath as disruptive to both his mindset and the team’s tempo. Coach Andy Reid, speaking after the game and again on Wednesday, framed Worthy’s recovery as ongoing and said the club was not considering long-term options like injured reserve at that juncture.
Main event
Midway through the first half, Kelce said he was running a route designed to occupy a defender and create space for Worthy to run past. The play unfolded rapidly; Kelce described attempting to set up his opponent but instead making contact with his teammate, who had separation on his defender. Worthy appeared to suffer a right shoulder injury on the collision and was ruled out shortly thereafter, missing most of the game as Kansas City fell 27–21 to the Chargers.
Kelce, on the New Heights podcast, expressed remorse and personal accountability. He said Worthy “had his guy beat” before the contact and suggested that if the play had gone uninterrupted the game might have developed very differently. On the sideline and in the locker room, teammates and coaches adjusted their approach to compensate for the loss of a primary deep threat.
Coach Reid updated the team’s status on Wednesday, saying Worthy and rookie Jalen Royals would not practice that day but were making progress. Reid explicitly noted that surgery and placement on injured reserve — which would mandate a minimum absence of four weeks — were not being considered at that time. The statement left the door open for short-term recovery but did not project a firm return date.
Analysis & implications
On-field collisions between teammates are rare but consequential: they can remove schematic advantages and force in-game tactical shifts. Worthy’s speed was a planned variable in the Chiefs’ attack, particularly important while Rashee Rice serves his suspension. Losing Worthy limited Kansas City’s vertical options and likely altered defensive alignments, giving the Chargers a different set of coverages to deploy.
Kelce’s public acceptance of responsibility matters beyond optics. As a veteran and on-field leader, his admission may shape internal accountability and inform how the team rehearses spacing and communication to prevent similar incidents. The episode also raises questions about route design and pre-snap adjustments when multiple fast receivers occupy overlapping corridors.
From a roster-management perspective, the decision not to pursue injured reserve immediately preserves flexibility for the Chiefs but also leaves uncertainty about mid-term availability. If Worthy misses multiple weeks, the Chiefs will need to rely more on secondary targets and schematic tweaks to replicate the deep-play threat he provided. The outcome could affect Kansas City’s early-season record and its preparation for upcoming matchups, including the Sunday home game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Comparison & data
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Game | Chiefs 21 — Chargers 27 (São Paulo, Brazil) |
| Injury | Xavier Worthy, right shoulder (ruled out after play) |
| Key suspension | Rashee Rice — six-game suspension (from March 2024 incident) |
| Medical note | Coach Reid said no surgery/IR being considered as of Wednesday |
The table summarizes the immediate game facts and roster context. Without Worthy’s vertical threat — and with Rice unavailable early in the season — the Chiefs’ passing attack lacked a component they had prioritized in the game plan. That absence corresponds with the team failing to lead in the contest and needing to find alternate ways to stretch the field.
Reactions & quotes
“I just got to be better — there’s no excuse for me running into my own guys like that,”
Travis Kelce, New Heights podcast
Kelce’s remark was delivered with visible contrition on his podcast and later in team meetings; teammates described the tone as accountable rather than defensive.
“Those two won’t practice today… Both are doing better. They’re working on it and making progress,”
Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs (postgame press conference)
Reid’s update emphasized short-term monitoring over definitive treatment plans and reiterated that the team was gathering medical information before making roster decisions.
“Speed kills in this league — taking that element away matters,”
Travis Kelce, New Heights podcast (paraphrased)
Kelce framed Worthy’s absence as a tactical loss, noting how defensive coverages and the Chargers’ game plan were affected once the deep threat was neutralized.
Unconfirmed
- Extent of structural damage to Worthy’s shoulder — no public imaging or definitive medical diagnosis has been released.
- Exact timeline for Worthy’s return to game action remains open; the team described his status as day to day without committing to specific dates.
- Whether the collision single-handedly changed the final outcome is an interpretation; multiple factors influenced the 27–21 result.
Bottom line
The collision between Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy removed a central offensive weapon from the Chiefs in a narrow 27–21 defeat in Brazil and introduced immediate roster and schematic questions for Kansas City. Kelce has publicly accepted responsibility, and the team is monitoring Worthy’s shoulder conservatively while ruling out surgery or injured reserve at the moment.
In the short term, the Chiefs must adapt their game plans to compensate for the absence of speed downfield, especially with Rashee Rice suspended. Longer-term implications will depend on medical findings over the coming days; if Worthy recovers quickly the impact will be limited, but an extended absence would force deeper schematic and personnel adjustments for Kansas City.
Sources
- The New York Times (news report)
- Kansas City Chiefs (team official site)