Head coach Andy Reid says that the Kansas City Chiefs plan to spread the ball around to different receivers rather than asking Xavier Worthy to replace the production of Rashee Rice, who’s out indefinitely with a knee injury.
“We’ve got guys here that have experience of playing in the game,” Reid said Monday, according to ESPN’s Adam Teicher. “It’s not that he’s the only one, doesn’t have to be the only one. We’ve got a good group of guys there that we can utilize, and we normally spread the ball around and that’s what we’ll continue to strive to do.”
Rice was injured in Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers when quarterback Patrick Mahomes collided with his knee while attempting to pursue Chargers defensive back Kristian Fulton after throwing an interception.
The SMU product left the game and is reportedly feared to have sustained a torn ACL. Rice is still undergoing testing Monday, Reid said.
Reid did rule out Rice for the Chiefs’ Week 5 game against the New Orleans Saints. The second-year wideout leads the team with 28 receptions for 288 yards to go along with two touchdowns.
Rookie receiver Worthy impressed Reid after Rice exited the Week 4 contest. The Texas alum caught three passes for 73 yards, including a 54-yard score in Sunday’s win. He sits third on the team in catches (nine) and receiving yards (154).
“I thought Xavier showed what he could do. He had a couple other potential opportunities there that we weren’t quite able to get to him, but you got a chance to at least see him operate out there and do some nice things as one of the primary receivers,” Reid said, per Teicher.
All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce posted his most productive statistical outing of the season. Kelce hauled in seven catches on nine targets for 89 yards.
“It was good to see that, which we knew was going to happen somewhere along here,” Reid said.
Kansas City will be shorthanded at wideout if Rice misses an extended period of time. The team already lost free-agent signing Marquise “Hollywood” Brown for the year after he underwent season-ending shoulder surgery.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman, Justin Watson, and Skyy Moore are among the veteran options on the Chiefs’ roster.
