The Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins for five draft picks in 2022. However, they didn’t only receive a couple of picks in return. They now also have Hill’s playbook which they might be using on his replacement, Xavier Worthy.

According to KC reporter and Editor-in-Chief, Pete Sweeney, on his official X account, “The #Chiefs first unofficial depth chart is now available.” In the list, we can see Worthy picking up a different role –a role that was earlier taken by Tyreek Hill.

The wide receiver, Worthy, has reportedly unofficially been given a punter specialist role for the Chiefs. It was a role that Hill performed when he was in the Chiefs from 2016 to 2021, before he shifted to the Dolphins. However, it’s an unofficial list as of now. But it is speculated that it might be true. And if it turns out to be true, then Worthy can be seen playing as a punter specialist, besides his wide receiver’s job.

A punt returner’s job is crucial – catching the ball after a punt and trying to give the team a great field position, or even score. So, like Hill, Worthy too might be doing this in the upcoming season. But it’s interesting to note that Hill wasn’t the full-time returner for the Chiefs. According to the stats, Hill has 88 punt returns in his career. With the Chiefs in 2017, he returned 25 punts, and in 2018 he had 20 punts, scoring a touchdown each year. It isn’t that enough, right?

Well, by 2020, Hill’s stats showed 85 punt returns for 1,009 yards, ranking him 25th for the decade. He had an outstanding rookie year in 2016, leading the league with 592 punt return yards. However, after that, as per the reports, he was only a part-time returner in 2017 and 2018, with just 417 yards combined. By 2019, he focused almost entirely on offense, with zero punt return yards. So, that’s the reason why Hill had one standout season and two part-time seasons as a punt returner.

Anyway, the Chiefs now have Worthy who is also considered as a punt return specialist.

How did football see Xavier Worthy’s potential in punt returns?

Last year in October, former Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy showcased his explosive talent with a dazzling 74- yard punt return touchdown against BYU. This electrifying run, which was the first score of the game, highlighted why Worthy made waves in college football. In his third year returning punts for Texas, Worthy averaged around an impressive 17.6 yards per return on just 13 attempts in the 2023 season. In 2022, he averaged 9.7 yards per return. This shows he has significantly improved with time. So, what Worthy has that special in him?

His former coach Steve Sarkisian pointed out the critical skills needed for such dazzling plays: “catching the punt cleanly and making split-second decisions.” That means unlike high school punts, college and pro punts come with more speed and unpredictability, Worthy’s punts are more skillful and impressive. Consequently, Worthy’s performance didn’t go unnoticed. With his rare speed and the potential to make big plays, he has already been recognized as a second-team All-American return specialist and a first-team All-Big 12 player.

And now paired with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ dynamic offense, Worthy’s future looks bright.