Arrowhead Pride
If Smith-Schuster returns in Buffalo, it will be the first time that Kansas City has had both wideouts in the same game.
As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for a crucial faceoff against the Buffalo Bills, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy feels confident in the team’s newly balanced receiving corps. With wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster set to return after a three-game absence due to a hamstring injury, Nagy anticipates a dynamic shift that will capitalize on each receiver’s unique skills.
“It’s a good problem,” shared Nagy, who emphasized Smith-Schuster’s physicality and experience, which complements the explosiveness of newly-acquired wideout DeAndre Hopkins. “DeAndre is now heading into his third week with us, being able to kind of learn the offense and what we do. It’s a good deal. They’re the same — but different — so it’s our job just to make sure that we’re utilizing them as best as we can.”
Nagy believes that having these two players could open up a range of offensive strategies, enabling the Chiefs to switch seamlessly between short, controlled plays and deeper, high-impact throws.
Nagy is also enthusiastic about the chemistry building between Hopkins and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, seeing it as a foundation for even more versatile play-calling.
“There’s a trust factor that we’re building,” he explained, noting that Mahomes and Hopkins are beginning to sync, especially on challenging deep routes.
Nagy expects this trust to draw more defensive attention, creating critical one-on-one situations for Hopkins while pulling coverage away from Smith-Schuster. This pairing could help the Chiefs break open the field — and target Buffalo’s defense in multiple ways.
But where would rookie wideout Xavier Worthy fit into this picture? Nagy admires the young player’s patience — and his readiness to adapt to Kansas City’s intricate offensive system.
“Xavier has been in a phenomenal mindset this entire time,” Nagy noted, pointing to Worthy’s commitment to learning from seasoned players like Hopkins and Smith-Schuster. “I think that’s probably most important — because the time is coming when we start hitting some of those [deep shots]. It’s going to be fun.”
While his route mastery (and timing with Mahomes) is still a work in progress, Nagy sees real potential in Worthy’s ability to absorb the team’s playing style — and gain confidence.
With a trio that combines Hopkins’ big-play potential, Smith-Schuster’s gritty experience and Worthy’s fresh talent, the Chiefs head into Sunday’s game with Buffalo equipped with their most diverse receiving lineup of the season.
Although injuries to Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown have kept Kansas City from fielding the wide receiver lineup it planned, this combination will give Mahomes his strongest set of options he’s had this season, which could provide a critical edge as he takes on Buffalo’s formidable defense.
