JASON KELCE JABS CHIEFS ROOKIE AFTER ELECTRIC RETURN SHAKES UP TAYLOR SWIFT RANKINGS
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KANSAS CITY, MO — After missing three games with a shoulder injury, Xavier Worthy made sure Chiefs fans—and opposing defenses—remembered just how dangerous he can be. The rookie wide receiver put on a dynamic show in Kansas City's Week 4 win over the Ravens, and his impact on the field wasn’t lost on the team—or on Jason Kelce, who discussed Worthy’s return on the latest episode of the "New Heights" podcast with his brother, Travis.
"It was a big day to have Taylor’s second-favorite player back," Jason joked, referencing Worthy’s rising profile not just inside the locker room, but apparently in Swift family circles too. Jokes aside, Kelce broke down just how much Worthy’s presence shifted the gears of Kansas City’s offense.
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And he’s absolutely right—Worthy changes everything.
A Sparkplug With Speed to Burn
Worthy’s stat line tells part of the story: five catches for 83 yards and an additional 38 on the ground. But those numbers don’t begin to capture how much his speed stretched Baltimore’s defense or how the Chiefs’ playbook suddenly opened up the moment he lined up wide.
From the opening whistle, Kansas City wasted no time reminding everyone what Worthy brings to the table. They dialed up an end-around on the very first drive, giving him space to build momentum and forcing Baltimore’s safeties to backpedal early. Later came the perfectly-timed reverse, showing the level of confidence the coaching staff has in his ability to make plays in space.
But the real damage came vertically. The mere threat of Worthy going over the top shifted Baltimore’s coverage shell, opening passing lanes for Mahomes and breathing life into an offense that had looked a bit out of rhythm the previous few weeks.
Jason Kelce put it bluntly: “That threat of speed and vertical ability to push the ball down the field affects the entire offense.” And it did exactly that.
From Shoulder Injury to Offensive Catalyst
Worthy's path back to the field wasn’t smooth. After a Week 1 collision with Travis Kelce in São Paulo, which left him with a dislocated shoulder and a torn labrum, there were early concerns about how long he'd be sidelined. But he didn’t just beat the timeline—he came back looking like the freshest guy on the turf.
Much of that credit, according to Worthy himself, goes to Travis Kelce. The veteran tight end, who was visibly shaken after the hit that knocked his rookie teammate out, said earlier this season that he felt the weight of that incident.
That support stuck with Worthy throughout his rehab. After the win over Baltimore, he called Kelce the team’s “biggest hype man” and made it clear he was motivated to return that energy by making plays. He did just that—and then some.
Mahomes: “He Tilts the Field”
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Chiefs offensive storyline without a Mahomes highlight or two. But the quarterback made a point to spotlight Worthy’s contributions after the game—not just in terms of yardage, but in what his presence means for the offense as a whole.
“He tilts the field,” Mahomes said. “When the ball’s in his hands—or looks like it might be—you can see defenses recalibrate. That opens everything up.”
He's not exaggerating. With Worthy on the field, Mahomes had more options, more time, and more balance in the passing attack. The ripple effect was real. Defenders had to respect the deep ball again, and that shifted things underneath for Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, and even the running backs as the Ravens struggled to keep pace with Kansas City's suddenly humming offense.
If Sunday’s performance is a preview of what Xavier Worthy can consistently bring to this high-octane Chiefs offense, then the rest of the league has a problem. He’s not just fast—he’s football fast with real vision and a strategist’s understanding of how to leverage space.
And Jason Kelce might be onto something. With plays like that, Taylor Swift’s favorite players list could easily have a new challenger for the top spot.
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