Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes Praises Xavier Worthy's Impressive Debut Performance

Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes Praises Xavier Worthy's Impressive Debut Performance

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy made an immediate impact in his NFL debut, scoring a touchdown on his first touch and another in the fourth quarter, which proved to be the game-winner in the Chiefs' 27-20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

However, for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Worthy’s influence went beyond those two touchdowns. Mahomes highlighted that the rookie’s mere presence on the field was a significant factor.

"Just having him out there opens up a lot of opportunities," Mahomes explained. "You saw when he was on the field, they had to play shell coverages, which in turn freed up guys like Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice underneath. That’s the beauty of our offense—we can take advantage of those situations, and that’s when we’re at our best.

Worthy caught just two passes in the game, including a 35-yard touchdown from Mahomes in the final quarter, and also scored the Chiefs' first touchdown on a 21-yard reverse play.

The Ravens were so wary of Worthy’s speed—he ran a 4.21-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine—that Rashee Rice had a standout game with seven catches for 103 yards. The Chiefs' top tight ends, Travis Kelce and Noah Gray, combined for six catches and 71 yards.

Missing from the game was wide receiver Marquise Brown, the Chiefs' big offseason acquisition, who was sidelined with a dislocated shoulder but is expected to return early in the season.

“When Hollywood is out there, defenses will have a tough time deciding who to cover,” Mahomes noted.

Worthy had also run the reverse play during a preseason game but fumbled at that time. However, he told offensive coordinator Matt Nagy during the Chiefs' Thursday morning walkthrough that he would score a touchdown on the same play if it was called against the Ravens.

One of the qualities the Chiefs appreciate about Worthy is his ability to stay composed in big moments. “I feel like nerves aren’t really a thing for me,” Worthy said. “It’s like being a kid again, playing in the backyard.”

After his first touchdown, Worthy was so caught up in the moment that he forgot to keep the ball as a memento, but Mahomes stepped in to retrieve it for him.

“He’s so cool, calm, and collected all the time,” Mahomes said. “You don’t see much excitement from him, but he makes big plays. We want to keep using him more and more. He had a great day, making crucial plays in important moments.”