Blast off! Chiefs first-round WR Xavier Worthy scores two touchdowns in season-opening win

Trailing, 7-0, the Chiefs got on the board with Worthy’s first NFL touch. His 21-yard score saw him top out at 18.45 mph when he gained +14 Rushing Yards Over Expected, per Next Gen Stats.

“Man, it was crazy,” Worthy said of his first TD. “We ran that in the preseason, and I fumbled. So, it was kind of bad, but for them being able to have that trust in me. I told (offensive coordinator Matt) Nagy that I think this play is going to score and it happened. So, it was an amazing moment my first touchdown in the NFL.”

Even though he only touched the ball three times, Worthy’s game-breaking presence was and will be a boon for his teammates, according to his quarterback.

“Just having him out there it just opens up stuff,” Mahomes said. “You saw when he’s out there, they are playing shell coverages. It’s getting guys like (Travis Kelce) and guys like Rashee (Rice) open underneath. That’s what is so great about this offense. We are able to do all of that and that’s when we are at our best. So, when we get Hollywood (Brown) out there too, it’s going to be tough for defenses to decide who they want to cover.”

Worthy’s final touch of the evening was his second catch of the game and it put the Chiefs ahead for good, as his 35-yard sprint to pay dirt led to a 27-17 Kansas City advantage.

Thereafter, Kansas City was able to withstand a Lamar Jackson and Isaiah Likely-led rally.

Mahomes and the Super Bowl champs have a new weapon, though, and it took little time for him to make an emphatic impact.

Buoyed by a sensational debut from their first-round pick, the two-time reigning Super Bowl champions are off and running in 2024.