We are 53 days away from the Kansas City Chiefs‘ season-opening game against the Denver Broncos on “Monday Night Football” in Week 1.
The No. 53 jersey will be worn by linebacker Kam Arnold this preseason. He was an undrafted free agent signed by the Washington Commanders following the 2025 draft, but the Chiefs scooped him up towards the end of the season for the practice squad when he was cut last year.
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In team history, the uniform seems to always be donned by a linebacker:
KANSAS CITY, MO – NOVEMBER 17: Middle Linebacker Marvcus Patton #53 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs to the field after introduction during the NFL game against the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium on November 17, 2002 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs defeated the Bills 17-16. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s an interesting group of Chiefs linebackers who have made an impact with the No. 53 jersey in Kansas City. Hitchens was the middle linebacker at the beginning of the era of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, when the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV, but Chiefs Kingdom was ready for Nick Bolton to take over in the middle of the defense.
Patton filled up the box score during his four seasons as a starter in Kansas City. In 1999, after nine years playing elsewhere, he racked up 105 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, four passes defended and three fumble recoveries. He was named team MVP that season.
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That level of production held steady through the 2002 season, his last in the NFL at the age of 35.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 27: Xavier Worthy #1 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs for yards during a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 27, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Chiefs 31-28. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Over the 14 games wide receiver Xavier Worthy played in 2025, he was given the ball 53 times, less than four touches per game.
After the shoulder injury he suffered during Week 1, it was clear that Worthy’s usage was limited in the offense, and that has been reiterated by head coach Andy Reid this offseason. He was protected with his route tree, but that can’t continue to be the case in full health. He is too explosive in the open field, especially on quick-hitting plays like receiver screens and shallow crossing routes, to not have a higher volume of usage moving forward.
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Worthy has a lot to prove as an NFL player, but one of the biggest things will be his durability. He has shown toughness and flashes of play strength given his physique, but the team needs his full-go playmaking all season in 2026.
