Chiefs News 7/4: The spotlight is on Chiefs’ wide receiver position
KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 28: Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) slaps hands with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (80) during the game against the Baltimore Ravens on September 28th, 2025 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesThe latestChiefs position spotlight: Wide receiver questions, concerns and battles | The Kansas City Star
Throwing deep: Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton
Players have a tendency to be more forthcoming about injury-related struggles a year later.
That happened with Xavier Worthy, who admitted in June that he waslimited throughout 2025 by the shoulder injuryhe suffered when he collided with Kelce just three plays into the season. With three fewer appearances, Worthy's production dipped from 742 scrimmage yards as a rookie to 619 in 2025.
After offseason surgery, Worthy should enter training camp closer to full strength, which will allow Reid to make use of his ability to line up all over the field. In 2025, Worthy took 70% of his wide-or-slot snaps outside and 30% inside.
Speaking at last year's Scouting Combine, Reid was bullish on Worthy's second season, emphasizing that the Chiefs see the40-yard dash kingas more than a deep threat. Those words played out in his targets, as he saw more than 10 apiece behind the line of scrimmage, short, intermediate and deep.
Free from injury, Worthy should see an uptick in production while giving Reid value as a decoy of sorts. Worthy's speed and pre-snap motion provide precious eye candy to open space for Rice, Kelce and Walker.
WR Tyreek Hill: Chiefs
While they don't necessarily need another receiver, theChiefscould nonetheless add Hill to a receiving corps headlined byTravis Kelce,Rashee RiceandXavier Worthy. Hill, after all, won aSuper Bowlin Kansas City and has a rapport withPatrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
TheChargersandBillsalso make sense for Hill, who is hoping to revive his career after a serious knee injury sidelined him for most of the 2025 season. Both teams have elite quarterbacks and wide receiver groups that could use a boost.
The Stakes Can't Get Any Higher for Rashee Rice-Chiefs Pairing in 2026 | Sports Illustrated
Rice's Strengths and Weaknesses
Back to volume, Rice fills up the stat sheet when it comes to the ball being thrown his way. His 25.4% target share in three-plus games before a season-ending injury in 2024 ranked 19th among wideouts, and his 3.20 yards per route run were second,perSumerSports. In eight games a year ago, his target share spiked to 28.68 (12th overall).
Rice gives Kansas City a floor, as he can be funneled short-area passes and use his acceleration and slippery post-catch chops to pick up extra yards.According toPro Football Focus, a whopping 75.4% of Rice's targets last season were either behind the line of scrimmage or within nine yards of it. He netted 7.8 yards after catch per reception for the second straight year (albeit in limited sample sizes).
The red flags with Rice stem from a lack of availability and no expanded repertoire as a receiver. He's played in just 12 games across 2024 and 2025 due to suspension and injury, and then hespent 30 days in jailearlier this offseason following a probation violation. He was alsorehabbing from knee surgerywhile in jail.
The former SMU standout can also be a bit of a one-trick pony. He doesn't possess the top-end speed to be a burner down the field, and his release package isn't good enough to help him gain separation like elite pass catchers. He has a low average depth of target year in and year out, accompanied by some crossing routes over the middle being an off-speed pitch.
Past versions of Rice show who he is on a snap-to-snap basis. Now 26 years old, it's worth considering that a true qualitative breakout simply may never be in the cards, even if the quantitative optics are good.
The NFL's Most Overpaid Player at Every Position | Bleacher Report
Around the NFLSafety: Bryan Cook, Cincinnati Bengals
2026 cash salary:$18 million
Cash rank among SAFs:5thThe NFL's top safeties are either ballhawks or make game-changing plays in various roles. Bryan Cook is a solid player at the position, but he doesn't fit into either of those categories.
Yet the Cincinnati BengalssignedCook to a three-year, $40.3 million deal. They snagged one of the premier free agents on the market at a questionable cost when you dig into the numbers.
In 62 games (47 starts), Cook has registered just three interceptions and 15 pass breakups. Though he's capable of playing both safety positions and nickelback, the 26-year-old is missing the big plays that separate guys like Derwin James Jr., Antoine Winfield Jr. and Kyle Hamilton from others at the position.
Perhaps Cook becomes more of a playmaker on passing downs, supplements the pass rush or racks up more tackles for loss in Cincinnati. That said, we should question a team owing $18 million to a safety who'salloweda passer rating above 128 in three out of four seasons.
One of ESPN's most recognizableNFLdraft analysts has suffered a personal tragedy following a devastating automobile accident. ESPN's Matt Miller was reportedly involved in the crash and lost one of his arms. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help cover expenses related to the accident. However, the fundraiser has since been paused amid a developing investigation.
According to multiple reports, theMissouri Attorney General's Office has opened an investigationinvolving Miller. The reported investigation follows accusations from multiple social media users who claim Miller scammed them through various contests and promotions.
The allegations include claims involving raffle prizes, fantasy football league payouts, and other contests. Several users allege that Miller failed to distribute promised winnings or prizes from events he organized.
GoFundMe campaign paused
Like due to the growing attention on social media and the reported investigation by the Missouri Attorney General's Office,Miller's GoFundMe campaignhas been paused. It remains unclear whether GoFundMe suspended the fundraiser or whether the organizer voluntarily paused it.
According to the GoFundMe campaign page, the fundraiser had raised more than $51,000 from hundreds of donors before it was paused.
Former NFL LB Keith Mitchell Passes Away | Pro Football Rumors
In case you missed it on Arrowhead PrideFormer NFL linebackerKeith Mitchellhas passed away, as Texas A&M athleticsconfirmedon Thursday. Mitchell was 51 years old. His passing wassudden and unexpected,"according to a statement from his family.
A native of Garland, Texas, Mitchell had a decorated run with the Aggies from 1993-96. As part of their Wrecking Crew" defense, Mitchell amassed 34 sacks, one ahead ofVon Millerfor fourth on the school's all-time list. He notched 14.5 as a senior en route to All-Big 12 honors and an All-America selection. Texas A&M inducted Mitchell into its Athletics Hall of Fame in 2015.
Despite his prolific college career, Mitchell went undrafted in 1997. He signed with the Saints and went on to enjoy far more success in the NFL than most UDFAs. Mitchell spent his first five years in New Orleans, where he became a full-time starter in his second season.
A highly durable and productive Saint, Mitchell missed just one of a possible 80 games in their uniform. He earned the lone Pro Bowl nod of his career in 2000 after totaling 86 tackles, personal bests in sacks (6.5), fumble recoveries (four) and defensive touchdowns (two), and an interception. Mitchell finished his 79-game, 61-start tenure in New Orleans with 381 tackles, 20 passes defensed, 18.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles and all four of his career interceptions.
Will Chiefs linebacker Cooper McDonald take a step forward in 2026?
From The FeedSocial media to make you thinkThe Chiefs addressed several positions this offseason, but linebacker was not one of them.
Kansas City lost its standout strong-side linebacker, Leo Chenal, in free agency, and did not do much in the offseason to replace his role in the defense.
Chenal missed the last few games of the 2025 regular season, and the man to take his place was undrafted rookie Cooper McDonald.
McDonald played in all 17 games for Kansas City and was on the field for 69% of special-teams snaps before receiving significantly more playing time in the season's final two games.
The lack of action at this position in the offseason could indicate the team is interested in giving McDonald a larger role in 2026 if he continues to improve.
The good
McDonald proved to be a physical player around the line of scrimmage in the limited snaps he played in 2025. Used primarily as a strong side linebacker and end of line walk-up player, McDonald often squared up with tight ends and fullbacks.
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