Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt has expressed skepticism about the impact of Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy ahead of their matchup at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.
Worthy, who set a new NFL combine record with a 4.21-second 40-yard dash, made headlines last week by scoring two long touchdowns, contributing significantly to the Chiefs’ victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Despite this, Taylor-Britt remains unconvinced.
“(He has) speed. That’s about it,” Taylor-Britt remarked, according to Caleb Noe of WCPO 9. “He can run straight. Run jet sweeps and just run straight. He can’t do too much else, though, so that’s about it.”
Worthy, selected 28th overall in this year’s draft, showcased his potential with a 21-yard touchdown run and a 35-yard touchdown catch in Week 1. His performance has injected a new spark into the Chiefs’ receiving corps, which was lacking in 2023.
Despite his impressive speed, Worthy was seen as undersized with a slim frame coming out of the draft. Kansas City lists him at just 165 pounds.
“I feel like if you put your hands on him, he’s only a hundred-and-some pounds. You put your hands on him, you stop his speed,” Taylor-Britt added.
The Bengals and Chiefs have cultivated a notable rivalry in recent years, clashing in the AFC Championship games of 2022 and 2023. Since January 2022, the teams have faced off five times, including the playoffs. The Bengals won the initial three encounters, but Patrick Mahomes has led the Chiefs to victories in the most recent two.
The Bengals experienced a surprising 16-10 loss to the New England Patriots at home in Week 1. Taylor-Britt recorded seven tackles in the game, was targeted four times, and allowed three receptions for 25 yards, according to Football Reference.
