Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce admitted he bears the primary responsibility after colliding with wide receiver Xavier Worthy on one of the first offensive snaps during Kansas City’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil last Friday. The contact left Worthy with a shoulder injury that removed him from the remainder of that game; Worthy was listed as not practicing on Wednesday and his availability for Sunday’s matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles is uncertain. Speaking on his New Heights podcast, Kelce said he “wasn’t ready that first drive” and that he must improve, noting his 13 years in the league as context for why the mistake is inexcusable. Kelce also caught a touchdown later in that same game, but said the early collision disrupted the team’s rhythm.
Key Takeaways
- Collision occurred on one of the first offensive snaps vs. the Chargers in Brazil last Friday, leading to Xavier Worthy’s shoulder injury.
- Worthy was removed for the remainder of that game and did not practice on Wednesday; his status for Sunday’s game vs. the Eagles remains uncertain.
- Travis Kelce, a 13-year NFL veteran, said he takes “the most accountability” for the play and called the mistake inexcusable.
- Kelce later caught a touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes in the same game, but said the miscue affected the team’s early momentum.
- The incident highlights short-term depth concerns for the Chiefs’ receiving corps ahead of an upcoming divisional-caliber game.
Background
The NFL has expanded regular-season games and events overseas in recent years, and the Chiefs and Chargers met in one such international contest in Brazil last Friday. For teams traveling abroad, the logistical and environmental differences—time zone changes, stadium conditions, and altered pregame routines—can influence timing and execution on early snaps. Travis Kelce has been a central figure in Kansas City’s offense for 13 seasons, often tasked with working through complex route combinations and setting up coverage for outside receivers. Xavier Worthy is a key target in the Chargers’ receiving group and his sudden removal from that game shifted both teams’ immediate personnel plans. Small alignment or timing errors between veteran tight ends and younger receivers can produce outsized consequences in high-speed offensive sets.
Coaches typically emphasize precision on the opening drives because those plays set tempo and build confidence. In this instance, the interaction between Kelce and Worthy occurred while both were running patterns near each other; Kelce described his assignment as taking a depth route intended to complement Worthy’s vertical path. When that synchronization fails, teams risk turnovers, missed opportunities, or injuries that alter game-day rotations. Given the short turnaround before Sunday’s game against the Eagles, Kansas City’s medical and coaching staff must balance recovery timelines with strategic needs.
Main Event
On one of the first offensive plays of the game, Kelce and Worthy converged while running their routes, and the resulting collision forced Worthy out of the contest with a shoulder issue. Kelce told listeners on New Heights that he “wasn’t ready that first drive,” framing the incident as a personal lapse rather than a schematic failure. According to postgame information, Worthy did not return and was listed as not practicing on the following Wednesday, leaving his status for the next game unclear. Kelce acknowledged the play changed the dynamic: he said the opponent had been beaten on the route, but the team had to reset after the injury.
Later in the same game, Kelce caught a touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes, showing he still contributed despite his earlier error. Still, Kelce said it was difficult to regain full momentum after causing a teammate to leave the field. Coaches often must make in-game and week-to-week adjustments when a targeted receiver is sidelined, shifting formations, personnel groupings and play-calling to compensate. The immediate consequence was a disrupted opening drive and a longer-term question about roster flexibility ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Eagles.
Analysis & Implications
From a schematic perspective, tight ends are frequently asked to occupy space that opens lanes for outside receivers; when a veteran like Kelce mis-times a depth route, it can create both competitive and safety issues. The incident underscores how even experienced players — Kelce has 13 NFL seasons — can produce costly mistakes under atypical conditions such as an international game. Coaches will likely review alignment, communication and pre-snap responsibilities to reduce the chance of repetition. The Chiefs’ offensive staff must weigh whether this was an isolated timing error or a symptom of broader preparation issues tied to travel and routine changes.
Worthy’s immediate absence constrains the Chargers’ receiving options for upcoming contests; on the flip side, Kansas City must address how internal collisions can be prevented between offense members running adjacent patterns. Short-term depth behind top receivers will be tested, and those challenges can affect red-zone schemes and third-down conversions. If Worthy remains sidelined for Sunday, both teams could see game plans adjusted to reduce reliance on contested sideline or vertical routes that require tight spatial separation.
Beyond the game, the public acknowledgement by Kelce that he “has to be better” matters for team culture and accountability. A senior player accepting responsibility can temper internal friction and set a corrective tone, but it also invites scrutiny from analysts and opposing teams assessing vulnerabilities. How Kansas City responds — through practice emphasis, personnel rotation, or communication drills — will indicate whether this episode has lasting tactical effects or becomes a teachable, contained mistake.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Game | Chiefs vs. Chargers in Brazil (last Friday) |
| Injury | Xavier Worthy — shoulder injury; did not return that game |
| Player comment | Travis Kelce — takes most accountability; 13th NFL season |
The table above summarizes the core facts: location and timing of the game, the on-field consequence for Worthy, and Kelce’s response. While Kelce did produce a scoring play later in the contest, the initial collision had measurable impact on personnel availability and early-game momentum. Teams often track snap-by-snap communication errors to identify recurring breakdowns; if this collision is coded as a timing or alignment error, it will inform practice priorities in the coming days.
Reactions & Quotes
“I was trying to kind of set up my guy… I just got to be better, man. I’m 13 years in the league. There’s no excuse for me running into my own guys like that.”
Travis Kelce, New Heights podcast
Kelce framed the play as a personal failure and emphasized accountability in a public forum, signaling to teammates and fans that he recognizes the cost of the error. That language is consistent with veteran leadership that seeks to contain fallout and redirect focus toward corrective action.
“Worthy is not practicing on Wednesday and his status for Sunday’s game against the Eagles remains uncertain.”
NBC Sports (media report)
The outlet’s report on practice status underlines the immediate uncertainty facing coaching staffs as they prepare for the next contest. Official injury and practice designations will determine whether the Chargers list Worthy as questionable, doubtful or out when the game-day report is released.
Unconfirmed
- The precise medical diagnosis and expected recovery timeline for Xavier Worthy’s shoulder injury have not been publicly released.
- It is not confirmed whether the collision will lead to any roster changes or long-term adjustments beyond the immediate game-week plans.
Bottom Line
Travis Kelce’s public acceptance of responsibility for the early collision with Xavier Worthy is a clear, immediate action to contain internal fallout and focus attention on corrections. The incident removed Worthy from the game with a shoulder issue and produced lingering uncertainty about his availability for Sunday’s matchup with the Eagles. Kansas City’s offense showed resilience with Kelce catching a touchdown later, but the opening-drive miscue disrupted early momentum and raises questions about in-game communication and timing under international travel conditions.
Coaches will prioritize clarity in assignments and re-run situational timing in practice while medical staff monitor Worthy across the week. Analysts and team planners will watch official practice reports and the game-day injury list to see whether this episode affects short-term strategy or remains a contained mistake. For now, the clearest takeaway is a veteran player acknowledging an avoidable error and the teams adjusting to uncertain personnel availability.
Sources
- NBC Sports — media report summarizing Kelce’s remarks and practice status