The NFL season is underway, which means that, unfortunately, injuries are rearing their ugly heads. As fantasy football managers prepare to set Week 2 lineups, it’s important to stay informed on the latest injury news. Xavier Worthy is out with a dislocated shoulder. What is the latest information on his injury, and when can fantasy managers expect the Kansas City Chiefs WR to return?
Xavier Worthy Injury Update
Worthy will not play in Week 2 and will likely be out longer after suffering a dislocated right shoulder in Kansas City’s Week 1 loss to the Chargers. The injury occurred just three plays into the game when he collided with teammate Travis Kelce on a crossing route, causing him to fall directly on his shoulder.
Head coach Andy Reid has labeled Worthy’s status as “day-to-day” but indicated the team is taking a cautious approach with the second-year receiver. “He’s rehabilitating and working on his shoulder; we’ll see how it goes each day,” Reid stated in an interview with Sports Radio 810 WHB in Kansas City.
Surgery remains a possibility, but Reid said that is not the plan at this time. Worthy will rehab the injury and hopefully return in a few weeks with a brace. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that “the most likely scenario is for Worthy to wear a brace on his shoulder and return this season.” However, surgery is still an option pending more tests and consultation.
Travis Kelce took full responsibility for the collision during his “New Heights” podcast appearance on Wednesday. “I’ll take the most accountability myself,” Kelce said. “I wasn’t prepared during that first drive. I collided with one of my teammates and took him out of the game. I was supposed to be running my route at the correct depth for Worthy. This is frustrating for me. I just need to do better, man. I’ve been in the league for 13 years. There’s no excuse for colliding with my own players like that.”
Travis Kelce goes in depth on the route concept with Xavier Worthy and the impact Worthy has on the offense on the (@newheightshow) Podcast. pic.twitter.com/XkqCGiU7Qk
— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) September 10, 2025
Worthy is almost certain to miss multiple weeks, but right now, it is not considered a season-ending injury. However, it is worth noting that if Worthy does return and the shoulder dislocates again, that would necessitate surgery and end his season. Medical analysts suggest that, depending on the severity, he could be out anywhere from 2-4 weeks for a simple dislocation to 6-8 weeks if there are structural injuries.
The Chiefs are still awaiting results from Worthy’s second opinion consultation, which will determine the exact timeline for his return. Until then, Kansas City must navigate without their explosive deep threat in an already depleted receiving corps.
Worthy Fantasy Outlook
Worthy’s injury is particularly frustrating for fantasy managers, given his trajectory entering the season. The second-year receiver had a slow start to his rookie year but finished strong, demonstrating the type of improvement that often leads to sophomore breakouts. Based on Hollywood Brown’s elite usage in Week 1, Worthy would likely have seen increased targets and could have been primed for a fantasy breakout.
Sophomore wide receivers are often great values in fantasy football, as they typically make significant statistical leaps in their second seasons. Worthy appeared positioned to follow this trend before the unfortunate collision with Kelce derailed those plans.
The injury is unfortunate for the Chiefs, as they are already without Rashee Rice, who is suspended for the first six games of the season. Worthy’s potential return around the same time as Rice puts a damper on his rest-of-season outlook, as Rice will step back into his WR1 role upon his return from suspension. This timeline overlap could limit Worthy’s target share once both receivers are healthy.
While Worthy is out, the Chiefs will likely continue using Hollywood Brown in that role as best as possible. However, Brown is obviously nowhere near as talented as Worthy or Rice. The veteran produced strong fantasy numbers with five receptions for 99 yards, but it took him 16 targets to do so.
Kelce could see more targets just like he did last year when Rice went down, but he looks to be a shell of his former self and only caught two passes in Week 1. The veteran tight end’s declining production adds another layer of concern for Kansas City’s passing attack while their top receivers are sidelined.
Fantasy managers with Worthy can either sell low in trades or place him in an IR spot once the fantasy platforms allow it and ride it out, hoping he can stay healthy when he returns.
Given the uncertainty surrounding both his timeline and potential for re-injury, holding onto him requires significant patience and roster flexibility. The upside remains substantial if he can return healthy and avoid further shoulder issues, but the risk is equally high given the nature of the injury.
