The Week 7 showdown between the Chiefs and 49ers—a rematch of SB LVIII—was supposed to be the headline act. But for the defending champs, it quickly turned into a red alert, with their receiver room in shambles. The last thing they needed? Xavier Worthy taking a brutal hit. And yep, it happened. Ouch.

Xavier is now sidelined, looking worse for wear after that huge collision with 49ers’ safety, Malik Mustapha. Kansas City might be down to just three healthy wideouts. The hit was exactly the kind you worried about. Now, it’s Watson, Hardman, and Moore left to carry the load.

But thankfully, it was only a minor scare as the rookie WR returned to be part of the action. Not only that, he quickly became Patrick Mahomes’ go-to, snagging three catches over 19 yards.

However, for Reid and the Chiefs Kingdom to do the unthinkable (and get the ring for the third time in a row) they must show their grit by fighting off the injury woes. And it starts with dealing with the WR depth chart. The 21-year-old rookie can literally come through during such harsh times. But for another championship run, the Chiefs will not only be relying on Worthy. They’d want him to build a connection with Mahomes.

Xavier Worthy: A like-for-like Rashee Rice replacement?

The Chiefs may have found their next dynamite weapon in Xavier Worthy. After Rashee Rice blew up last season and became Mahomes’ top target, Worthy is now stepping into those shoes. I mean, for now, he’s filling the void that Rice’s unexpected injury blow has created. But it still forces us to wonder: can lightning really strike twice in Kansas? Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy seems to think so.

Nagy spilled the beans on why Patrick Mahomes might find this transition seamless, saying, “Patience is the biggest factor.” Just like with Rice, it’s about building trust and letting those “ah-ha” moments happen. Worthy and Rice may be different players, but both bring smart football IQs and a knack for picking up Mahomes’ rhythm.

Now, with Rice sidelined for the rest of the season, Xavier has a golden opportunity to step up and prove why he’s Worthy of it. And hey, Reid’s creative play-calling means Worthy’s already had his hands on the ball, whether catching or running. You’ve got to wonder—will Mahomes and Worthy form the same kind of connection he had with Rice?

If Worthy follows the Rice playbook, there’s a chance we could be talking about two future stars carrying this offense for years to come. It could very well be a cooking season. If not, then in the current situation, the Chiefs must look to get an above-average WR. What do you think?