‘He Can’t Do Too Much Else’ – Bengals CB Cam Taylor-Britt Not Impressed By Chiefs Rookie Xavier Worthy

CINCINNATI – Last year, it was Ja’Marr Chase “adding fuel to the fire” that is the rivalry between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs.

Chase said nothing about the Kansas City defense stands out, and “it’s not like they got a superstar.”

Wednesday afternoon after Cincinnati’s first practice in preparation for Sunday’s game at Arrowhead Stadium — the teams’ sixth meeting in four seasons — Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt offered his blunt assessment of the two-time Super Bowl champions.

Bengals and Chiefs To Meet for 6th Time in 4 Seasons

“I don’t like them,” Taylor-Britt said. “We see them a lot. And it didn’t turn out the way we wanted to the last time.”

Is there a lot of talking in this game?

“Hell yeah,” Taylor-Britt said. “I don’t shut up. I don’t care. I don’t give a damn.”

That was clear when the cornerback was discussing certain players.

Despite the familiarity with six meetings since Week 17 of 2021, including two AFC Championship Games, there is a new weapon for Taylor-Britt and the rest of the Bengals’ defense to be concerned about.

Rookie Xavier Worthy, who broke John Ross’ 40-yard dash record at the NFL Combine in March with a 4.21 time, scored two touchdowns in his NFL debut last Thursday, helping the Chiefs hold off the Baltimore Ravens 27-20 in the league’s kickoff game.

His first NFL touch! welcome to the NFL Xavier Worthy⚡️ pic.twitter.com/J9pnvZJaJu

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) September 6, 2024

Taylor-Britt isn’t impressed, as evidenced by how he answered the question of what Worthy brings to an already-potent offense.

“Speed. That’s about it. He can run straight,” he said. “He can’t do too much else. That’s about it. If you put your hands on him, he’s only 100-some pounds (165). If you put hands on him, you’ll stop the speed.”

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor would not approve of that message, and it has nothing to do with Taylor-Britt’s willingness to share such a message. It’s more about accuracy.

“He’s a great receiver,” Taylor said. “We enjoyed studying him at Texas. I went to the Pro Day. He’s tremendously fast, but he’s very aware. He’s not just a fast guy that plays football. He’s a fast guy that’s a really good football player.

“There’s toughness to him,” he continued. “He’s got really good hands, and he’s got great awareness. When he can get those soft zones and be able to run free, it creates challenges for you.”

Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has done a good job against the Chiefs in the previous five meetings. Tyreek Hill averaged just 59 receiving yards in his two games against Cincinnati, while Kansas City has averaged a manageable 25.4 points.

Patrick Mahomes has nine touchdowns and two interceptions against the Bengals. Both interceptions came in the 2021 AFC Championship to help spark Cincinnati’s record-setting 18-point comeback win.

That was before Taylor-Britt arrived as a second-round pick in 2022. Since then, the Bengals have gone 1-2 against the Chiefs, including a 25-17 loss in Week 17 last year.

Each of the five previous meetings between the teams have come in December or January.

Squaring off in Week 2 with Cincinnati needing a win to avoid a third-consecutive 0-2 start might seem different on the surface, but Taylor-Britt doesn’t think it will be.

“The Chiefs are the Chiefs. He’s Pat Mahomes,” Taylor-Britt said. “I don’t think it matters when you play them. You know you’re going in there and you know who you’re playing.”