Chiefs' Kelce accepts blame for Worthy's injury
Star tight end Travis Kelce is taking full accountability for a miscue that injured Kansas City Chiefs teammate Xavier Worthy during last week's game in Sao Paulo against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Worthy dislocated his shoulder on the Chiefs' first offensive drive of the regular season after colliding with Kelce while each player was running a crossing route in the opposite direction. Worthy was taken out of the game and did not return.
"I wasn't ready that first drive. I ran into one of my guys and offed him out of the game," Kelce said about the collision on the "New Heights" podcast. "I literally took one of my players out. That's one of the most frustrating parts. It's hard to get your juices back going knowing that you just hurt a guy."
He added: "I'm 13 years in the league. There's no excuse for me running into my own guys like that. ... I'm supposed to be running my route at depth for Worthy."
Kelce finished the 27-21 loss with two catches for 47 yards and a touchdown.
Head coach Andy Reid said Worthy and fellow wideout Jalen Royals (knee) won't practice Wednesday, adding that Worthy is "just rehabbing," according to ESPN's Nate Taylor. The second-year wideout's status for the Super Bowl LIX rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday is uncertain.
The injury to Worthy leaves the Chiefs shorthanded at receiver as Rashee Rice continues to serve a six-game suspension for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Kelce credited Tyquan Thornton, Marquise Brown, and JuJu Smith-Schuster for stepping up after Worthy was hurt.