Chiefs’ 2026 Season: Offensive‑Line Woes, a New Under‑Center Game, and Xavier Worthy’s Breakout Chance

Less than a week separates us from the Chiefs’ Monday Night Football debut against Denver, and three storylines already dominate the conversation.

1. The offensive line is now the biggest depth question. All offseason chatter focused on the wide‑receiver corps, but preseason drills revealed a much deeper problem – the O‑line simply isn’t deep enough. When right guard Trey Smith limped out with a back injury, the coaching staff shuffled interior tackles Jaylon Moore and Kahlil Benson inside, a move that felt more like a stop‑gap than a solution.

To patch the hole, Kansas City traded for New York Giants guard Joshua Ezeudu in late August, yet the situation got worse. Left tackle Josh Simmons remains sidelined with a lingering back issue, leaving his first‑game status in doubt. A second trade brought Baltimore’s Diego Pounds aboard, but expecting him to click after a week of practice is optimistic at best.

With Mahomes returning from December knee surgery, the Chiefs can’t afford a shaky front line. If Simmons stays out, the team may have to rely on Moore at left tackle and thrust Benson – an undrafted rookie – into the right‑tackle spot. That would be only the second time since 2000 that an undrafted rookie tackle started Week 1, according to TruMedia.

2. A subtle but noticeable shift toward more under‑center plays. Early camp footage showed the Chiefs lining up under center more often than in recent years. The numbers back that up: in 2025 the offense ran under center on 20 % of its snaps; in the three preseason games this year it jumped to 31.1 %.

The move isn’t just a gimmick. It’s meant to unlock the skill set of free‑agent running back Kenneth Walker III, whose vision and burst thrive when he receives the ball from the quarterback’s hand rather than from shotgun. The scheme also opens up play‑action opportunities, a hallmark of Andy Reid’s play‑calling.

Will Kansas City finish among the league’s leaders in under‑center usage? Probably not, especially now that other clubs are eyeing the Rams’ recent success with that approach. Still, expect the Chiefs to sprinkle more of those snaps into their playbook as the season unfolds.

3. Xavier Worthy – the underrated third‑year receiver. When I made my bold prediction earlier this week, I hinted that Worthy could surpass the 1,000‑yard mark, a notion that still feels bold but believable. Coach Andy Reid once praised Worthy’s speed, saying the kid runs “100 miles an hour” on crossing routes. An injury‑plagued 2025 season forced the staff to dial back those routes, but the talent remains.

Now, at 23, Worthy entered training camp with a fresh receivers coach, Chad O’Shea, and earned MVP honors during summer practices. He missed much of camp after re‑injuring his shoulder, yet he should be game‑ready for Week 1. At 5‑11, 165 lb, he’s not a prototypical possession receiver, but his speed and route‑running could make him a nightmare for defenses if his health holds.

Betting markets have been conservative, penciling him for roughly 650 receiving yards – below even Travis Kelce’s projection. If the Chiefs restore his full route tree and keep him healthy, that number could easily be eclipsed.

In short, Kansas City’s 2026 narrative will revolve around plugging the O‑line holes, watching the under‑center experiment take shape, and hoping Xavier Worthy finally gets the spotlight he deserves.