Xavier Worthy hit with unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after Christmas present touchdown celebration
After scoring the first touchdown during Wednesday’s Christmas Day matchup against the Steelers, Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy got called for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. He celebrated the score by apparently tossing presents out of a bag, but later lifted his shirt – which the referee likely perceived to be showing a gun in a holster.
Worthy caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to find the end zone and get the Chiefs on the board. He did a Christmas present celebration, but replays later showed he later raised his shirt to apparently show a gun.
The result was a 15-yard penalty on the PAT. Harrison Butker’s attempt missed wide right, and the Chiefs took an early 6-0 lead on the opening drive.
Xavier Worthy’s touchdown was part of a hot start for Kansas City, which later scored again on its next possession. Mahomes connected with Justin Watson for a big play to get the Chiefs into Steelers territory, and the two linked up again on the 11-yard touchdown to make it a 13-0 game. It was quite the way to get the Christmas Day doubleheader underway as the two AFC contenders squared off.
The Chiefs entered Wednesday’s game on a five-game winning streak after suffering their lone loss of the year to the Buffalo Bills. Last time out, Kansas City took down the Houston Texans 27-19 in a Saturday matchup. That game came at a cost, though.
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Star defensive lineman Chris Jones suffered an injury in that game and entered Wednesday as questionable. However, he was later ruled out, meaning the Chiefs would be without their top player on the defensive line.
The Steelers also came into Christmas shorthanded. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and quarterback Justin Fields are both out for the game, though Fields will serve as the emergency third quarterback. George Pickens was notably off the inactive list, meaning he was a full go for Wednesday.
It marks Pickens’ first appearance since Dec. 1 when he went down with a hamstring injury. Earlier in the week, the Steelers receiver expressed optimism about his chances to play.
“I hope so,” Pickens said. “It depends on how I feel. … I feel good. But who makes the decision is [with] the coaches and the doctors. Whatever they tell me to do, I am doing.”