The Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiving game thus far this season hasn’t mirrored the success they’ve had in the past. With Xavier Worthy going down with a dislocated shoulder in Week 1, and reportedly being available for Week 3 against the New York Giants, the Chiefs may need to rely on another receiver to avoid further injury.
Hollywood Brown, Tyquan Thornton, and Juju Smith-Schuster have been the trio that Kansas City has relied on most this season. And while Worthy may be available, his role should be used sparingly if the Chiefs want to have him for the remainder of the year. This directs all eyes to this rookie wide receiver.
Jalen Royals, the Chiefs’ fourth-round draft pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, has yet to make his debut in the National Football League yet, missing the first two games with a knee injury. From what the Chiefs have seen from Royals ahead of Week 3, he could easily become a huge threat for Kansas City against New York.
The beauty of having a rookie wide receiver involved in the offensive game plan is that defenses may not know what to expect from them. Sure, it’s a part of the defensive coordinator’s job to have his defense prepared for any player on the field, but if the Chiefs use Royals in a different way than he was used in college, it could be the turning point in the young season.
Head coach Andy Reid and company had nothing but positive things to say about Royals this offseason, some of whom have compared him to Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice. There would be no better time than those comparisons to become reality than in Week 3, should Royals be cleared to play.
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