Rookie Season Success on Offense
Xavier Worthy, a 2024 first-round pick, quickly made a name for himself as an explosive offensive weapon during his rookie season. The Kansas City Chiefs are now hoping to see that same level of impact on special teams in the upcoming season.
“He’s the best punt returner nobody knows about right now in the league,” said special teams coordinator Dave Toub (via Ed Easton Jr. of Chiefs Wire).
Shift From Special Teams to Offensive Duty
The Chiefs initially intended to use Worthy as their main punt returner last year. However, an injury to Rashee Rice forced the rookie to take on a full-time offensive role. Worthy delivered an impressive performance with 742 yards and nine touchdowns on 79 touches during the regular season. He went on to lead the league in the postseason with 19 receptions for 287 yards and three touchdowns.
Despite his offensive breakout, Worthy did not take a single special teams snap last season. Still, he brought a strong college resume in punt returns, having led the SEC in 2023 with 22 returns for 371 yards and an average of 16.9 yards per return while at Texas.
Competition for the Punt Returner Spot
Toub anticipates a “great battle” for the punt return role this summer. Worthy will compete with 2024 undrafted wide receiver Nikko Remigio and rookie running back Brashard Smith.
Remigio assumed punt return duties after Mecole Hardman was placed on injured reserve in December. He handled 14 punt returns for 161 yards over the final eight games of the season, including the playoffs.
“Remigio continues to get better, and he will be a hard guy to beat out,” said Toub, who praised the wide receiver’s “ball reads” and “catching ability.”
Smith’s Speed Adds to the Mix
Another strong candidate is Brashard Smith, who, despite limited college punt return experience with just five returns, is a proven kick returner. He accumulated 1,295 kick return yards over four college seasons. In 2023, while at Miami, he led the ACC with 579 yards and a 29.0-yard average per return.
Toub pointed to Smith’s “top-end speed” as a key attribute for the job. The 22-year-old recorded a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
