After a 0-2 start to the season, the Kansas City Chiefs have turned things around to look more like the unrelenting force football fans have come to know over the past few seasons. However, after a few wins, they’ve run into a challenge facing off against the Buffalo Bills in Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season.
After a fast start to the season, wide receiver Xavier Worthy has disappeared into the background and is out to yet another slow start against the Bills in Week 9.
What Happened to Kansas City Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy?
The Chiefs’ offense struggled a bit to start the season due to injuries and Rashee Rice’s suspension. However, as the weeks went by, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the offense began to figure things out as they awaited the return of Rice to the offense.
Worthy proved to be an asset early on, but his role has decreased as the season has progressed. After suffering an injury in the Chiefs’ Week 1 matchup against the Chargers, Worthy returned with a huge outing against the Ravens in Week 4, catching five passes for 83 yards along with two rushes for 38 yards.
Unfortunately, the wideout has not been much of a factor against the Bills in Week 9, catching two of three targets for five yards and an additional carry for seven yards through the first half. It’s worth noting that he has been open; it seems the addition of Rice to the offense in recent weeks has clouded Mahomes’ focus on his premier target.
Worthy was wide open. Mahomes just keeps trying to hit Rice. Forcing him passes.
— Armando c. (@colonarmando21) November 2, 2025
Despite missing a few games, Worthy has been a reliable target for Mahomes in 2025, catching 21 of 33 targets for 233 yards and one touchdown through six games in 2025. While the Chiefs need more from the 2024 first-round pick, the return of Rice reduces the need for his contributions.
Yet, the Chiefs drafted Worthy for a reason; he was able to haul in 59 catches for 638 yards and six touchdowns during his rookie campaign, but the Chiefs need more. Kansas City currently has the third-best offense in the league based on PFSN’s Offense Impact metric.
If they are going to invest a first-round pick, that player needs to be a game-changer. Kansas City has been the upper echelon of the NFL for a while, and that comes with a price: every team in the league chasing you. If the Chiefs are going to beat the Bills, they need to have all hands on deck, and that will include more output from Worthy in the second half.