The Kansas City Chiefs have been in a bind since week one. Their offense, once feared across the NFL, has looked tight and predictable, almost boxed in. Rashee Rice has been serving his six-game suspension. Xavier Worthy was sidelined with a shoulder injury just seconds into the season.

Patrick Mahomes has had to carry a heavy load, scrambling and trying to stretch the field mostly on his own. The run game has been stuck in the mud, barely gaining enough to keep defenses honest.

But Andy Reid just dropped some big news for the Chiefs and Mahomes. Xavier Worthy is set to suit up against the Baltimore Ravens. The Chiefs could get a boost on offense this Sunday as they aim to avoid a 1-3 start against the Ravens.

“He was running fast,” Reid said. “We didn’t worry about his legs, right? It was an upper-body injury, so he’s been able to keep himself in good shape and ready to go. He looked good, what we asked him to do there.”

Worthy, who suffered a dislocated right shoulder in the Chiefs’ season opener, has missed two straight games, but back-to-back full practices point to a return to action Sunday against the Ravens.

Worthy barely got reps in last week’s practice, but the Chiefs played it safe and kept him off the field. This week, though, he’s been all in during every practice session, clearly hinting he’s making a comeback. He’s not listed on the final injury report, so looks like he’s good to go.

Reid made it clear Worthy’s shoulder isn’t a ticking time bomb, despite the rough hit that put him out early in the year. “We’re not going to put him out there if he’s not healthy enough to go play,” Reid said. He noted that the physical nature of the game means opponents will always try to “knock you around a little bit,” with or without injury.

So it’s about both physical readiness and mental toughness. At this point, Worthy feels ready to take the field, and the team is banking on him to finally give Mahomes the receiving weapon he’s missed so badly. Kansas City, currently tied for 21st in scoring alongside the Patriots, could use the spark.

How Xavier Worthy’s absence has crippled the Chiefs

The Chiefs’ offense has struggled mightily without Worthy. Running backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt have barely moved the chains, averaging just 3.6 yards per carry combined, and failing to break any big runs. That has left the passing game as the only real hope.

But even Mahomes’ passing numbers are slipping; he’s hitting just 59% completions and averaging 6.4 yards per attempt — both career lows. His scrambling is keeping Kansas City afloat, but scrambling only gets you so far in a league loaded with tough defenses.

Receivers like Tyquan Thornton and Hollywood Brown are struggling to separate from defenders. Defenders aren’t afraid to stack the box, daring Kansas City to beat them through the air.

Meanwhile, Worthy’s anticipated return promises more than just speed. Worthy’s ability to stretch the field, especially deep, offers Mahomes a much-needed weapon beyond Thornton, who’s been the sole deep threat.

Along with Rashee Rice returning soon, the offensive dynamic could bounce back to the dominant unit fans expected this season. The Ravens, known for their defensive intensity, will put that theory to the test Sunday. But at least for the first time in weeks, Mahomes will have his full arsenal ready to fire.