Chiefs’ Travis Kelce accepts blame for Xavier Worthy’s harm
Travis Kelce took duty for injuring Xavier Worthy throughout a play within the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs‘ season opener in São Paulo, saying Wednesday that there’s “no excuse” for what occurred and why the harm occurred.
Kelce shared his perspective throughout the “New Heights” podcast he co-hosts with Jason Kelce, his brother, when discussing the Chiefs’ 27-21 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday night time. Travis Kelce mentioned he took the “most accountability” himself for the defeat as one of many workforce’s predominant leaders.
“I bumped into one in all my guys and offed him out of the sport; I actually took one in all my gamers out,” Kelce mentioned of Worthy. “That is one of the irritating components, and it is exhausting to get your juices again going figuring out you simply damage a man.”
Worthy, a second-year participant who’s the workforce’s quickest receiver, suffered a proper shoulder harm whereas operating a crossing route to realize separation towards the Chargers’ man-to-man protection. He collided with Kelce, who was operating a crossing route in the wrong way. Worthy fell to the turf in ache and did not return to the sport.
“I am 13 years within the league. There is not any excuse for me operating into my very own guys like that.”
Travis Kelce
Earlier than Wednesday’s apply, coach Andy Reid mentioned that Worthy would not want surgical procedure and that the workforce would not plan to position him on injured reserve. If Worthy, who did not take part in Wednesday’s on-field work, will not be out there for Sunday’s Tremendous Bowl rematch towards the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chiefs hope he can return in a few weeks.
“[He’s] doing higher and making progress,” Reid mentioned. “He is simply rehabbing right here.”
With out Worthy, the Chiefs fell behind by 10 factors early within the second quarter to the Chargers, who pressured quarterback Patrick Mahomes to complete Friday’s recreation with 39 passing makes an attempt. A lot of Mahomes’ 14 makes an attempt within the second quarter confirmed how a lot the Chiefs’ offense modified with out Worthy. Mahomes accomplished 10 of these passes, however his common depth of goal was simply 4.1 yards, a transparent distinction to his 15 air yards per move try within the first quarter.
“I am alleged to be operating my route at depth for Worthy, so it is irritating for me,” Kelce mentioned. “I used to be attempting to type of arrange my man to have the ability to get ready, and all of it simply occurred fairly fast. And I simply received to be higher, man. I am 13 years within the league.
“There is not any excuse for me operating into my very own guys like that. Worthy has his man beat and we’re out the gate, and that recreation begins fully completely different.”
The Chiefs are optimistic Worthy might be uniform in Week 4 on Sept. 28 towards the Baltimore Ravens, a supply instructed ESPN.
“I am unsure the place he is at well being clever, however I am hoping that we get him again as quick as potential as a result of he means a lot to this workforce,” Kelce mentioned. “I can see that man and the way exhausting he works, and I can see his recreation getting higher, and I do know he’ll take the league by storm when he will get again.”
The Chiefs had been already short-handed at receiver with rookie Jalen Royals not making the journey to Brazil due to a knee harm and Rashee Rice serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s private conduct coverage.
Kelce gave credit score to receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton for stepping up after Worthy’s harm. Hollywood Brown led the Chiefs with 10 receptions for 99 yards.
“They stored us within the recreation there,” Reid mentioned Wednesday of the trio. “I assumed they did effectively catching the ball and some yards after the catch. It was good to get [Brown] again within the swing.”
