Travis Kelce talks Xavier Worthy collision in Chiefs’ Week 1 loss
Travis Kelce said he “felt like s–t” last Friday after colliding with Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy, who was ruled out with a dislocated shoulder in Kansas City’s 27-21 season-opening loss to the Chargers in Brazil.
During Wednesday’s installment of the “New Heights” podcast, the star Chiefs tight end explained he “wasn’t ready for that first drive” when he and Worthy collided on a third-down pass just three snaps into the game.
“I’ll take the most accountability myself,” the three-time Super Bowl champ told his big brother, retired Eagles center Jason Kelce. “I wasn’t ready for that first drive, I ran into one of my guys and offed him out of the game. I literally took one of my players out. That’s one of the most frustrating parts and it’s hard to get your juices back going knowing you just hurt a guy.
“It’s a frustrating way to start off the season and start off the game. But you can take some good from that second half, but, at the end of the day, we just gotta be able to win up front, be accountable on the back end, and be able to start fast and finish stronger.”
Kelce, 35, recalled the collision happening “pretty quick.”
“I’m supposed to be running my route at depth for Worthy,” he recalled. “So, it’s frustrating for me. I was kind of trying to set up my guy to be able to get into position, and it all just happened pretty quick.
“I just gotta be better, man. I’m 13 years in the league. There is no excuse [for me] running into my own guys like that.”
Kelce is hopeful Worthy, 22, will be back as soon as possible, with a Super Bowl rematch this Sunday against an Eagles team that denied their three-peat attempt in February.
“I’m not sure where he is exactly in terms of health-wise, but I’m hoping that we get him back as fast as possible because he means so much to this team,” Kelce said.
“I know he’s going to take the league by storm when he gets back … I owe my guy big time, man. X knows it. I felt like s–t. I could barely even f–king play the rest of that first half, but we geared it up once I found out that he was in better spirits than I imagined at halftime.”
Worthy’s injury especially hurt Kansas City since they were already down two receivers, with Rashee Rice suspended for the first six games of the season and rookie Jalen Royals out with a knee injury.
Kelce’s night also involved another memorable confrontation.
Chargers defensive tackle Teair Tart was penalized for unnecessary roughness in the third quarter for hitting Kelce in the helmet following a run by Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt.
After the game, Chiefs coach Andy Reid was confused as to why Tart wasn’t ejected.
“I’ll work out that with the league,” Reid said. “I can’t get into all that.”
Despite the loss, Kelce said he enjoyed playing in Brazil and praised the Chiefs’ fanbase.
“It was a cool experience outside of us just not getting off on the right foot,” Kelce said. “I know it’s again kind of sounding like a broken record from last year’s Super Bowl, but that’s on us as leaders.”