The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to get above .500 for the first time in 2025. After decimating the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4, the Chiefs have a chance to win their third straight game on Monday Night Football. The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off a big win against the San Francisco 49ers and won’t be an easy opponent for Kansas City.
It won’t be any easier if one of their key receivers, Xavier Worthy, misses the primetime showdown.
Xavier Worthy’s Status for Monday Night Football
Update: Xavier Worthy is officially active and will play tonight against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chiefs are the 14th-ranked offense in PFSN’s Offense Impact Score with a grade of 76.8. Kansas City looked to find its groove against Baltimore in Week 4, and with the return of Rashee Rice from suspension looming, defenses might soon have issues dealing with Kansas City’s offense.
Worthy appeared on the injury report on Sunday and is listed as questionable for the game with an ankle injury. This isn’t his first time in 2025 on the injury report, as he did not play in Weeks 2 and 3 due to a shoulder injury. He returned to action against the Ravens in Week 4.
Hours before the game, NFL reporter Cameron Wolfe confirmed that the Chiefs’ star is expected to play against the Jaguars. “Xavier Worthy expected to play tonight despite dealing with some ankle swelling yesterday, per source,” he wrote on X. “The Chiefs will
Worthy experienced some swelling after the team’s flight, but the hope was that he could play. He was a full participant in practice all week before being labeled questionable on Sunday. The Chiefs’ offense looks like a much more dynamic unit when Worthy is on the field.
Worthy had an encouraging rookie season and has grown into an important piece of Kansas City’s offense, especially with Rashee Rice still suspended. This was on full display in the Super Bowl, when he had 157 yards and two touchdowns.
Worthy being available adds another speed threat for Patrick Mahomes. Tyquan Thornton has been the other speedster available for Kansas City throughout the year and has revitalized his career after an up-and-down stint with the New England Patriots. Other receivers, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquise Brown, have also produced through the first four weeks.
The Chiefs can inch closer to the top of the AFC West with the Los Angeles Chargers dropping to 3-2 after their hot start, the Raiders struggling, and the Broncos also sitting at 3-2. A win would put Kansas City in a prime position to take control of the division as it aims for a 10th straight AFC West title.
The Chiefs are no strangers to pressure and have responded to their early-season challenges well. Worthy being back helps, and they will be hoping his questionable status won’t keep him out Monday night.
Worthy’s Fantasy Outlook
Last week, Worthy and the Chiefs didn’t seem too worried about his shoulder in his return to action. Not only did the speedster rank second to JuJu Smith-Schuster in routes run, but he also earned eight targets, protected his body, and opened up everything that Kansas City wanted to do.
The ability to avoid contact, in the short term at least, is as critical as anything we saw last Sunday, as an awkward landing could result in extended missed time. It is important to remember, however, that defenders can’t hit what they can’t catch, and with a 16.6-yard aDOT against the Ravens, Andy Reid seemed pretty aware of this fact.
I still have my concerns around the value of Worthy once Rice returns. We saw Worthy expand his route tree in the absence of Kansas City’s WR1 last season, and that’s great, but if he is pushed into a more vertical role in the second half of this season, how much does Tyquan Thornton eat into his pie?
There is always going to be big-play potential for Worthy by nature of his skill set and the QB responsible for feeding him those opportunities, but I do fear that those splash plays will become critical, not bonuses, once Rice reacclimates to this system.
You’re starting him every week that he’s healthy until I have some data points to prove/disprove that theory.