Chiefs rookie <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/xavier-worthy-122221/">Xavier Worthy</a> launched himself into the first-round draft conversation when he ran a sizzling 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Now, the talk is about whether this wispy receiver can survive a pro pounding.



Worthy weighs 169 pounds. He’ll be one of the lightest players in <a href="https://www.on3.com/pro/category/nfl/news/">the NFL </a>this season. But the former Texas Longhorn standout isn’t worried about his weight. He made that clear Saturday during a media availability after the Chiefs’ first day of rookie minicamp.



“I don’t think I took big hits, I delivered them,” <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/chiefs/gm-report/kc-chiefs-xavier-worthy-on-role-weight-learning-from-desean-jackson">Worthy told reporters</a>. “I feel like it’s not going to be a problem. (And) I feel like just understanding your strengths and your weaknesses, I feel like that’s the big thing in the league. Don’t, obviously, don’t try to go hit a 250-pound linebacker. Just understanding your strengths, like I said.”



Worthy’s strength at Texas was hitting warp speed as he ran away from chasing defensive backs.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="538" src="https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/05/04183925/xavier-worthy-big-12-title-game-2-1024x538.jpg" alt="xavier worthy big 12 title game" class="wp-image-2423432" srcset="https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/05/04183925/xavier-worthy-big-12-title-game-2-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/05/04183925/xavier-worthy-big-12-title-game-2-300x158.jpg 300w, https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/05/04183925/xavier-worthy-big-12-title-game-2-768x403.jpg 768w, https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/05/04183925/xavier-worthy-big-12-title-game-2-50x26.jpg 50w, https://on3static.com/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/05/04183925/xavier-worthy-big-12-title-game-2.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chiefs-coach-andy-reid-said-worthy-reminds-him-of-ex-eagle">Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Worthy reminds him of ex-Eagle</h2>



Chiefs coach Andy Reid said that Worthy reminds him of <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/desean-jackson-137327/">DeSean Jackson</a>, who he coached with the Eagles. Jackson played at about 175 pounds. And during his time in the NFL, he was one of the best, big-play receivers in the game. He averaged 17.6 yards per catch during his career from 2008-22. He also was an ace returner.



“D-Jack came into the league at 169 and understood his strengths,” Worthy said. “So just using your strengths to your strength.”



Worthy said he has studied film of Jackson and <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/tavon-austin-110622/">Tavon Austin</a> to pick up tips on how a small guy can beat a much bigger defender. He likes what he saw of Jackson.



“Just his punt return and his ability to make a play after the catch,” Worthy said. “And how he understood the leverage for deep routes, I feel like he had really good leverage. I think he has the record for longest touchdown, so just his ability to understand leverage on deep routes.”



Worthy ran a 4.21-second time in the 40-yard dash two months ago in Indianapolis. He broke the combine record, owned by <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/john-ross-63579/">John Ross</a>, by .01. Worthy said he’d like to play this season at about 175. He also knows that a defender can’t hit him if he can’t catch him.



The Chiefs social media team shared a clip of Worthy wearing his new uniform and running some routes. The caption — “speedy speedy speedy.”



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Speedy speedy speedy 💨 <a href="https://t.co/zcMYHeZkEM">pic.twitter.com/zcMYHeZkEM</a>— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/1786880037309800470?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



The Chiefs selected Worthy with the 28th pick of the draft. Receivers <a href="https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/picks/">dominated the first round</a>. There were three chosen amongst the top 10 — <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/marvin-harrison-jr-84618/">Marvin Harrison Jr</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/malik-nabers-81943/">Malik Nabers</a> and <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/rome-odunze-101978/">Rome Odunze</a>. Then the Jaguars started another run when they selected LSU’s Brian Thomas at No. 23. Worthy was the fifth — and fastest — receiver off the board. The first round ended with <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/ricky-pearsall-100323/">Ricky Pearsall</a> and <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/xavier-legette-122059/">Xavier Legette</a> going back-to-back.

xavier worthy chiefs

5GOATs

Xavier Worthy doesn't expect his light weight to be a problem

team image

Pro News

NFL News

NFL Draft News

NASCAR

NBA News

NBA Draft News

Culture

Sports Betting

About

Football

Basketball

Women's Basketball

Softball

Baseball

Alabama

Arizona State

Arizona

Arkansas

Auburn

Baylor

Boston College

California

Removed

Clemson

Colorado

Duke

Florida

Florida State

Georgia

Georgia Tech

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Iowa State

Kansas

Kansas State

Kentucky

Lettermen Row

Lettermen Lounge

Louisville

Maryland

Miami

Michigan State

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi State

Missouri

NC State

Nebraska

North Carolina

Northwestern

Notre Dame

Ohio State

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

Ole Miss

The Main Board

Oregon

Oregon State

Penn State

Pittsburgh

Purdue

Rutgers

South Carolina

Stanford

Syracuse

Tennessee

Texas A&M

Texas

Texas Tech

UCLA

Utah

Vanderbilt

Virginia

Virginia Tech

Wake Forest

Washington

Washington State

West Virginia

Wisconsin

BamaOnLine

BOL Round Table

Inside Texas

IT Members Only

DawgsHQ

Dawg Walk

Scoop Duck

Recruiting & Sports

AuburnSports

The Corner

WeAreSC

GarryP's Trojan Huddle

The Wolverine

The Fort

The Lions Den

The Wolfpacker

The Wolves’ Den

GatorsOnline

Swamp Talk

Alabama A&M

Alabama State

Albany

Alcorn State

Abilene Christian

Appalachian State

Akron

Army

Austin Peay

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Arkansas-Little Rock

Arkansas State

Air Force

Ball State

American

Wofford

Winthrop

Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Wisconsin-Green Bay

Wichita State

Western Carolina

Volleyball

Gymnastics

Men's Lacrosse

Women's Lacrosse

Men's Soccer

Women's Soccer

Women's Track

Men's Golf

Women's Golf

Men's Hockey

Women's Hockey

Men's Swimming

Women's Swimming

Wrestling

Men's Tennis

Women's Tennis

Annual $1

Annual Premium

Annual $1 

Monthly

Annual

Unlimited Access to This and All Articles.

Article (On3 Plus Rivals)

Forum (On3 Plus Rivals)

Intro

Join

College scoop, experts, and community - all in one.

Winback

Top 25 sees big movement

AP Poll

Composite of major outlets

Way-Too-Early Top 25

Punishing players' wallets

Deion Sanders

New No. 1 overall seed

Bracketology update

Most impactful transfers

Instant Impact