Patrick Mahomes hasn’t wasted any time getting on the same page with dynamic rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy.
During an early Kansas City Chiefs training camp practice, Mahomes connected with Worthy on a deep pass that underscores how prolific a new element to the defending champion’s passing game has the potential to be this season.
On the play, Mahomes rolls out to his left before launching a deep shot upwards of 60 yards downfield to Worthy, who pulls down the reception for a touchdown.
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The Chiefs’ first-round pick, out of the University of Texas, averaged 14 yards per reception across his collegiate career in Austin, and is already making a strong impression on Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.
“He’s been working hard. Looks like his hamstring feels better,” Reid said at his press conference on Sunday (45-second mark). “We just got to keep him going here and keep learning. We’re just one install into it and we’ve got 12 of them, so he’s got a lot more information coming at him, and formations and shifts and motions and all that stuff. He did a nice job today.”
Worthy’s addition to the Chiefs’ offense, opposite free-agent arrival Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, has the potential to be transformational for Mahomes and the Chiefs.
After all, last season, Mahomes posted only eight passes that traveled at least 40 yards in the air, which was 12th-most in the NFL, and even Joe Flacco had more connections of at least 50 air yards than Mahomes’ three. Further, Mahomes averaged just 3.5 air yards per attempt.
Thanks to adding Worthy to Mahomes’ supporting cast, the Chiefs’ offense has the potential to be one that not only wins primarily by utilizing yards-after-the-catch weapons like All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce (who averaged five yards after the catch per reception in 2023) and Rashee Rice (who averaged 8.3 yards per reception last season, should he be available this season) but, this unit can now incorporate and win with those elements but might primarily focus on utilizing the deep ball, with arguably the premier quarterback in the sport.
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