Travis Kelce explains ‘frustrating’ collision that resulted in Xavier Worthy injury

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce detailed the “frustrating” play in which he collided with Xavier Worthy and sent the wide receiver to the sideline for the majority of the Chiefs’ loss to the Chargers on Wednesday’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast.

“I’m supposed to be running my route at depth for Worthy,” Kelce said. “I was trying to kind of set up my guy to be able to get into position, and it all just happened pretty quick. I just got to be better, man. I’m 13 years in the league, there’s no excuse for me running into my own guys like that.”

Kelce said Worthy “had his guy beat” and if the collision hadn’t happened, “the game starts completely different.” Worthy was ruled out with a right shoulder injury shortly after the play. The Chiefs never led the Chargers in the 27-21 defeat in Brazil on Friday.

“(Worthy’s) one of our best players, he’s going to take that step to be one of the best receivers in the National Football League, and I run into him and all of a sudden one of the biggest pieces of the game plan is out of the game,” Kelce said. “One of the fastest guys in the league — speed kills in this league — now they (the Chargers) don’t have to worry about that.”

On Wednesday, head coach Andy Reid said neither surgery nor injured reserve — which would keep Worthy out for at least four weeks — is being considered. Reid said Worthy would not participate in practice on Wednesday and his status is day to day.

“Those two won’t practice today,” Reid said Wednesday, referring to Worthy and rookie wide receiver Jalen Royals. “Both are doing better. They’re working on it and making progress, but not ready to go today for sure.”

Earlier this week, Reid said, “As far as injuries go, I know Xavier’s (Worthy) the big question, and he’s rehabbing and working his shoulder. We’ll just see where it goes.”

Worthy was the Chiefs’ leading receiver last year as a rookie. He entered 2025 as the Chiefs’ top option, especially with Rashee Rice serving a six-game suspension for this role in a March 2024 high-speed crash. Kelce said he owes Worthy “big time,” and he could “barely even f—ing play the rest of that first half.”

“I literally took one of my players out. That’s one of the most frustrating parts, and it’s hard to get your juices back going knowing you just hurt a guy,” Kelce said. “It’s a frustrating way to start out the season. It’s a frustrating way to start out the game. You can take some good from that second half, but at the end of the day, man, we just got to be able to win up front, be accountable on the back end and be able to start fast and finish stronger.”

On Sunday, the Chiefs host the Philadelphia Eagles in a rematch of Super Bowl LIX.

(Photo: Amanda Perobelli / Reuters via Imagn Images)

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