Yahoo Sports Why Chiefs — like Patrick Mahomes — believe Xavier Worthy is on verge of a breakout
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has a regret from recent weeks: He hasn’t been able to connect with speedy receiver Xavier Worthy down the field.
“I feel like if I hit those shots, the offense looks completely different — not only for those numbers and those stats, but it opens up everything else for everybody else,” Mahomes said. “Just trying to get back to that. He’s getting open every single game.”
The latest example was in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 16-14 home win over Denver — a missed connection that would’ve made things much easier on the Chiefs late.
A deeper dive into the details, however, leaves Mahomes’ and Chiefs coaches encouraged. A week after Worthy faded out of bounds while catching a deep throw from Mahomes, he learned from his mistake, leaving plenty of separation from the sideline as he ran past cornerback Riley Moss.
This one also fell incomplete, though, as Mahomes sailed an inaccurate pass out of bounds.
“You see those steady progressions each and every week,” Mahomes said. “And I think in the long run, it’s going to really pay off, because he is getting open.”
This latest instance had some route-running nuance to it.
Worthy executed a double-move on Moss, juking to the inside before getting completely by him downfield. That resulted in him “stacking” Moss, which is receiver lingo for getting completely over the top of a defender so he has no way to stop a potential downfield throw.
This time, Worthy also kept the “red line” in mind. On the Chiefs’ practice field — both at training camp in St. Joseph and in Kansas City — the team has a red line that runs 5 yards from the sideline that’s used as a landmark for receivers.
The goal, on sideline routes, is to keep as close to that line as possible to give your quarterback plenty of room to make a throw. Defensive backs, on the other hand, are always looking to bump receivers off that line toward the sideline, making it more difficult to catch throws while remaining inbounds.
Worthy said he had the red line in mind (it’s not marked on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium) while completing his double-move against the Broncos.
“Just give myself and give (Mahomes) some room for error to lay it in, wherever he needs to put it,” Worthy said.
The pass still landed incomplete, contributing to what’s been a quiet two weeks for Worthy.
He had no catches against the Broncos, and the week before, tallied just one reception for 11 yards in a victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy admitted on Thursday that statistically, Worthy’s numbers “aren’t really where a lot of people would want them, or any of us.”
Nagy immediately followed that, though, by saying Worthy was “fine” and close to having more production.
“We’ve just got to be patient working through it, understand that those guys are working each and every day to get their timing down, for Xavier to learn this offense,” Nagy said. “It’s not easy.”
One thing that hasn’t wavered, though, has been Worthy’s positive mindset. Nagy described it Thursday as “phenomenal.”
“I think that’s probably most important,” Nagy said. “Because the time is coming when we start hitting some of those, and it’s going to be fun.”
Coach Andy Reid said he hadn’t sensed any frustration in Worthy despite Worthy’s recent lack of production. Reid labeled Worthy as a “competitive kid” before praising him for his smarts and talent.
“There’s going to be a game here somewhere where he gets a lot of catches and we all go, ‘All right,’” Reid said. “That’s how those things work.”
Could the Buffalo contest on Sunday be that matchup?
If that happened, it would only twist the knife on Bills fans who are surely tired of seeing the Chiefs benefit from their own team’s actions.
Remember, KC traded up with the Bills to select Mahomes back in 2017. Then, in April, KC struck another draft deal with Buffalo to land Worthy in the first round.
The Bills, after trading back, took a receiver in Keon Coleman at the top of the second round. Coleman won’t play against the Chiefs on Sunday because of a wrist injury.
Worthy, even without receptions, believes he’s taken steps in the last few weeks to earn Mahomes’ trust.
“Just showing it and putting it on film, to show that I’m learning and getting better from what happened the past week,” Worthy said. “So that’s just showing my ability to learn and correct things.”
The Chiefs — including Mahomes — won’t be surprised if things turn his way soon.
“I have the confidence I’ll be able to hit him on some of those shots down the field,“ Mahomes said. “Like I said, it’s going to open up the rest of the offense as well.”
