The Kansas City Chiefs face a difficult situation after Xavier Worthy, who would be their WR1 while Rashee Rice served a six-game suspension, went down with a shoulder injury in Week 1. What is next for the Chiefs amid this injury?

The Chiefs can't catch a break since last season. They lost multiple players, especially wide receivers, to injuries in 2024. Andy Reid's team managed to navigate through the season without important pieces such as Rashee Rice, Marquis Brown, Skyy Moore and Mecole Hardman. 

At the same time, Worthy showed off his abilities week-by-week during his rookie season until he became the team's WR1. After Rashee Rice received a six-game suspension by the NFL, Worthy entered the season as the WR1 again.

Unfortunately, he caught friendly fire in the first scrimmage play of the Chiefs' season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday. He ran into Travis Kelce and went down after hurting his shoulder, ending his night and raising a lot of eyebrows among the fanbase.

Reid gave an update on Worthy on Monday, revealing the team is taking the injury "day by day," meaning he will eventually return to the field. The possibility of Worthy playing with a brace has gotten buzz since that update, but that might not be enough for the Chiefs. 

The defending AFC champions face three scenarios ahead of Week 2. They need to act quickly on this or the season might go south when they are expected to at least compete to return to the Super Bowl. 

Make Travis Kelce or Marquis Brown the No. 1 Target

The 2025 season is considered the final one for Travis Kelce after he decided to run it back with the Chiefs and challenge for the Super Bowl again. Kelce isn't as explosive or fast as before, but he showed that he doesn't need to be that to produce for his team in Week 1.

He caught two passes for 47 yards and one touchdown in the 27-21 loss to Los Angeles. Kelce was in the right place at the right time, which helped Patrick Mahomes connect for a touchdown to keep the team's chances alive. 

Per Football Insights on X, the Chiefs were nowhere to be found on the best quarterback-receiver duos in target EPA (expected points added) in Week 1. In contrast, Justin Herbert featured three times (6.3 EPA with Keenan Allen, 5.6 with Quentin Johnston and 5.2 with Ladd McConkey). 

Mahomes did connect with one receiver, who could also be a solution for this issue. 

With Worthy out of the picture, the Chiefs turned to "Hollywood" Brown to carry their aerial game. The speedster was targeted a game-high 16 times, catching 10 passes for 99 yards. 

While he didn't score, Brown was Mahomes' favorite target that night, which could open the door for him to lead the offense until Worthy or Rice are back. 

Trade for a New Wide Receiver 

There might not be many players available for trade this early in the season, but the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Philadelphia Eagles showed that if the right offer comes along, you can do business at any time. 

New Orleans Saints' Rashid Shaheed, Indianapolis Colts' Josh Downs, Buffalo Bills' Joshua Palmer or Minnesota Vikings' Jalen Nailor could be intriguing pieces for the Chiefs. More than that, speculation about a potential reunion with Tyreek Hill sparked after the Miami Dolphins were humbled by the Colts, 33-8, on Sunday. 

Hill caught four passes for 40 yards and no touchdowns. A potential exit from the Dolphins has been in the cards for Hill since last season. He has been a shell of himself since the remarkable 2023 season (119 receptions for 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns) and many think a change of air could revitalize his career. 

The Chiefs can use a speedster during Worthy and Rice's absence, and Hill already knows the organization, making him a fitting candidate. 

Time to Establish the Running Game 

Ahead of the 2025 season, the Chiefs were thought to favor the running game, more so after the league suspended Rice. They had different plans for the Chargers game, as only 98 of 347 total yards came from rushing the ball. 

Mahomes led the team's rushing game with 57 yards on six carries, while Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt ran the ball five times each, recording 25 and 16 yards, respectively. 

They have two solid running backs in Pacheco and Hunt and using them in a committee would bring a lot of benefits to Kansas City. The Eagles allowed 119 rushing yards (5.4 per rush) to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, with Javonte Williams gaining 54 in 15 carries and scoring twice. 

Week 3 should be positive for the Chiefs' running game, as they go against the New York Giants, who allowed 2,319 rushing yards last season. Then, they'll go against the Ravens, the number one defense against rushing (1,361 yards allowed). Week 5 will see them clash against the Jaguars (2,254 yards allowed), before the Lions (1,672 yards allowed) visit them in Week 6. The last game before Rice returns to the field will be a divisional duel against the Las Vegas Raiders, another team that allowed less than 2,000 rushing yards in 2024 (1,987). 

It may be a tricky path for the Chiefs, but one or two of these situations can put them in a good position to compete until their wide receiver room is healthy.