Former Texas standout receiver Xavier Worthy makes an immediate impact as he scored his first career NFL touchdown in the first quarter of Kansas City’s season-opening matchup against Baltimore.
Former Texas Longhorn wide receiver Xavier Worthy scored his first professional touchdown for the Kansas City Chiefs in an exciting play during Thursday night’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.
On a first-down play, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes faked a handoff and then connected with Worthy on a reverse. Worthy sprinted through the Ravens defense for a 21-yard touchdown, leveling the score at 7-7 with 5:55 remaining in the first quarter.
Worthy, who set a record at the NFL Combine in March with the fastest 40-yard dash time of 4.21 seconds—surpassing the previous record of 4.22 seconds held by former Washington wide receiver John Ross—demonstrated his impressive speed as he streaked past the Ravens defense for the score.
The 5-foot-11-inch, 165-pound speedster was the first Longhorn wide receiver selected in the first round since Roy Williams, who was picked by the Detroit Lions in 2004. Worthy was chosen by the Chiefs with the 28th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The back-to-back Super Bowl champions traded up to acquire the pick from the Buffalo Bills, making Worthy the second Longhorn to be drafted in the first round, following defensive tackle Byron Murphy, who was selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the 16th pick.
During his three seasons at Texas, Worthy started 39 games and ranks fourth in school history for receiving yards (2,755) and eighth for punt return yards (564). His career average for punt returns (14.5 yards) and his single-season average of 16.9 yards per return in 2023 are both second-best in Longhorns history.
XAVIER. WORTHY.
Welcome to the NFL 🤘
📺: #Kickoff2024 – Live on NBC/Peacock
pic.twitter.com/BRwuCVNJeE— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 6, 2024
“Xavier is a perfect fit for that explosive Chiefs offense,” said Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian after Worthy’s selection. “His speed is undeniable and will make a significant impact in the NFL. What’s remarkable is that he runs like that in practice every day.”
“Every rep is full speed. He can stretch the defense but offers much more than that. He’s an excellent route runner, works tirelessly, and possesses a high football IQ and a fierce competitive spirit. His skills also add flexibility to the punt return game, where he was a game-changer. X is set to be an exceptional pro in every aspect. Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and the two-time Super Bowl champions have acquired a fantastic player and person. I’m incredibly excited to see him in the NFL; he’s poised for a stellar career and is in an ideal situation for his abilities.”
The touchdown in the season opener marks Worthy’s first official career touchdown. He previously scored during the preseason with a 22-yard touchdown catch from Kansas City’s backup quarterback.
