Morning Sports Update

Patriots reportedly among teams that met with combine record-setter Xavier Worthy

Worthy broke the previous combine record by running the 40-yard dash in just 4.21 seconds.

Xavier Worthy Patriots
Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy celebrates his record-setting 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. AP Photo/Darron Cummings

By Hayden Bird

3 minutes to read

The Patriots and Xavier Worthy: During his comments at the NFL Scouting Combine, Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf — who has said he will make the call on the team’s draft picks — spoke about trying to “weaponize the offense” following a disastrous 2023 season.

New England lacked explosiveness in its attack, tying the Panthers for the least points scored in the league. To address that, the Patriots could opt for the fastest player to ever run the 40-yard dash at the combine: Xavier Worthy.

According to NFL draft reporter Tony Pauline, the Patriots were among several teams to meet with Worthy at the Texas pro day earlier this week (a long list that also included the Bears, Colts, Cowboys, Steelers, and Texans).

Advertisement:

Worthy, who left Texas after totaling 75 catches for 1,014 yards and five touchdowns as a junior to enter the draft, set a new combine record when he sprinted the 40 in just 4.21 seconds.

The time listed here was unofficial (and later revised to 4.21 seconds):

Worthy is projected to go as early as the late first round to the Buccaneers and potentially as late as the mid-to-latter part of the second round to the Dolphins (Miami head coach Mike McDaniel was also at Worthy’s pro day).

The potential issues in his game (according to NFL analysts) generally cluster around his lack of size. Worthy weighed in at just 169 pounds at the pro day.

Advertisement:

Trivia: Xavier Worthy set the new record in the 40-yard dash. Who held it previously?

(Answer at the bottom.)

Hint: He was a first-round pick by the Bengals in 2017.

Scores and schedules:

The Celtics defeated the Bucks 122-119 on Wednesday. Jayson Tatum led Boston with 31 points.

Tonight, the Bruins host the Rangers at 7 p.m.

On Friday, the Celtics will be back in action against the Pistons in Detroit at 7 p.m.

More from Boston.com:

Patriots soundbites: New and returning Patriots sounded off on the future of the team in the Jerod Mayo era.

On this day: In 1953, the Celtics completed the Eastern Division Semifinal sweep of the Syracuse Nationals with a 111-105 win in triple overtime. Aside from the implied drama of three overtimes, the game was notable for 106 fouls being committed, with a combined 129 free throws being attempted as a result.

Bob Cousy took full advantage, converting 30 of 32 free throws, finishing his night with 50 points. As Bob Ryan of The Boston Globe has commented of the game, the sheer number of fouls and slowed pace of the game may have contributed to the eventual adoption of the shot clock in 1954.

1953 Celtics

Daily highlight: The first points of Pat Spencer’s NBA career came on a dunk. Spencer’s story is an interesting one: Formerly the No. 1 overall pick in the Premier Lacrosse League, he opted instead to pursue his dream of playing basketball.

Trivia answer: John Ross

Hayden Bird

Sports Staff

Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.

To comment, please create a screen name in your profile

Conversation

This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com