The Chiefs clinched their second consecutive Super Bowl title at the end of the 2023 season, yet they entered the playoffs as the AFC’s third seed due to their regular season offensive performance.
During a press conference on Tuesday, quarterback Patrick Mahomes expressed that the team believed they did not play their best football throughout the regular season, especially on offense.
A significant issue was the lack of production from wide receivers, prompting the team to address this by signing Hollywood Brown and selecting Xavier Worthy in the first round of the draft.
Although Worthy dealt with a hamstring injury during the spring, Mahomes stated on Tuesday that the rookie will not be handled delicately as training camp begins.
“There’s no easing,” Mahomes stated via Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. “He’s going to have to be ready to go. We have a lot of competition on this offense.”
“Xavier got a lot of mental work in these last few weeks during OTAs and minicamp, but now it’s time to perform.”
“We saw it last year with Rashee [Rice] and some of the tough days he had. We’re going to push you to your limits to prepare yourself for the season. That’s not just him. That’s everyone, and everyone needs to adopt that mentality coming into camp.”
Rice ultimately became a dependable target for Mahomes, but his legal issues during the offseason could result in a suspension, making Worthy’s quick adjustment even more crucial for the Chiefs.