Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes signals big shift at training camp, bypasses Travis Kelce for 40-yard strike to Xavier Worthy
Patrick Mahomes
is entering his ninth NFL season with the Kansas City Chiefs, but this year's training camp is looking at a possible turning point in how the superstar quarterback plans to run the offense.
For years, tight end
Travis Kelce
has been Mahomes' most trusted and productive target – a security blanket that helped deliver three Super Bowl titles. But based on what's happening at Missouri Western State University, Mahomes may be preparing to spread the ball around more than ever and rookie receiver Xavier Worthy is quickly emerging as a major part of that plan.
Patrick Mahomes looks past Travis Kelce and takes a deep shot to his rookie speedster Xavier Worthy
During one of the Chiefs' first 7-on-7 sessions of camp, Mahomes had a classic opportunity to go back to what's worked in the past.
Kelce was open on a short middle route – the kind of throw Mahomes could make in his sleep. But instead, the quarterback looked off his longtime teammate and fired a deep ball downfield, hitting Worthy in stride for a 40-yard gain over cornerback Jaylen Watson. That moment turned into the biggest highlight of the day and made one thing crystal clear: Mahomes is thinking beyond what's safe or familiar.
Rather than defaulting to Kelce, Mahomes is pushing his offense to evolve.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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The reigning Super Bowl MVP is testing the limits of Kansas City's receiving depth and laying the foundation for a more explosive, balanced attack.
Patrick Mahomes sets the tone with full effort and championship focus at Kansas City Chiefs training camp
What's just as telling as Mahomes' throws is the way he's attacking each practice rep. His intensity this offseason has stood out even to his veteran teammates. 'I wanted to up my mentality,' Mahomes said of his approach to camp, adding 'Sometimes you get to camp, and you just want to go out there and dominate the day.
I want to dominate every single rep. No days off. You have to get better and better every day.'
Throughout 17 camp sessions, he's delivered consistently sharp passes and taken command of every drill. According to new Chiefs tight end Robert Tonyan, Mahomes looks more locked in than ever. 'It's incredible,' Tonyan said. 'The windows he's fitting them in, with the anticipation, is just awesome. You see Pat getting better every day.
He's making those hard throws look easy.'
With deeper reads and sharper footwork, Patrick Mahomes looks ready for a new chapter
In previous years, the Chiefs' star often extended plays with his legs. But this camp, he's remained more grounded and has focused on clean mechanics – thanks to offseason work with trainer Bobby Stroupe and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. 'There's an obsession that he has with being perfect at what he does,' Nagy said, reacting to the level of detail Mahomes has brought to his game.
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While the Mahomes-Kelce duo is far from finished – both will be in action when the Chiefs face the Chicago Bears.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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