ENGLEWOOD, Calif. – Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs were backed up at their own 8-yard line. On third-and-6, the Chiefs needed a first down to end the game late in the fourth quarter. Xavier Worthy sent a shallow cross up the middle and Mahomes hit a speedy wide receiver 15 yards to preserve a 17-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
A big-time, game-deciding first down catch is exactly what Kansas City needs going forward in the Chiefs’ understaffed wide receiving corps.
Kansas City improved to 4-0 on Sunday. However, the team that won back-to-back Super Bowls took a huge hit in the process.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said after the game, “Lashee Rice will undergo an MRI on his knee (Monday).” “I’m sure it’s not as good as we would like.”
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Rice suffered an interception by Patrick Mahomes in the first quarter and injured his right knee while attempting to tackle Chargers cornerback Christian Fulton. When Rice went into the tackle, Mahomes accidentally collided with the wideout as he tried to bring down Fulton.
After the play, Rice was helped to the sideline and eventually carted to the locker room. The Chiefs had Rice ejected in the first half.
“I was trying to fire into Travis (Kelce)’s body. I knocked him down a little bit. I turned the ball over,” Mahomes said of the play that injured Rice. “I thought Lachie made a really good play. I was trying to tackle the guy and he was obviously rolling on top of him, but that never happens unless you turn the ball over.”
The Chiefs do not expect a positive MRI test on Rice’s knee.
“We all came together. I feel terrible for Lachie,” Reed said. “He’s having a great year.”
Rice entered Week 4 with an NFL-high 24 catches. He was the team leader in both catches and receiving yards (288). He emerged as the team’s top pass catcher early this year, outpacing veteran tight end Travis Kelce. Rice’s absence could be a fatal blow to Kansas City, which is aiming for a historic third straight Super Bowl title. The team is already without running back Isaiah Pacheco and wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.
However, the Chiefs have won four straight since the start of the regular season, and have won 10 straight since last year. They found a way to win with the play-calling of Reed, the NFL’s best quarterback and the only tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards in seven consecutive seasons in Kelce.
Mahomes and Kelce’s relationship was rekindled Sunday. Kelce had a quiet start to the year by his standards, but when the Rice-less Chiefs offense needed a reliable target, he was targeted nine times and had a season-high seven catches for a tight end. , recorded 89 yards.
“With Rachy out early, we need to get Kelce back into a situation where he can get a ton of catches,” Mahomes said. “Kelce in general is not a concern for me. I know he’s going to make plays whenever we need him.”
Mr. Kelce will likely continue to get a “ton of” targets in Mr. Rice’s absence. But Worthy could emerge as a reliable wide receiver. Worthy had three catches for 73 yards and one touchdown in the win, including a 54-yard touchdown reception. The speedster told USA TODAY Sports that the Chiefs are a good fit for him. Now is the perfect time to prove it.
“I’m the next person in the drawing room,” said Worthy. “I’m praying for our brothers. But I think we have a lot of guys who can play in important situations.”
Without Rice, the next man in the drawing room would seem worthy.
Kansas City’s passing attack needs its veteran tight end and rookie wide receiver, a first-round pick, to continue playing if it has a chance to become the first NFL team in history to three-peat as Super Bowl champions. there will be.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TylerDragon.