Speed to Burn and Bears Took a Look

Count the Bears among the teams to have interviewed the fastest man in the history of the NFL Scouting Combine.

Xavier Worthy broke John Ross' combine 40-yard dash record set in 2017 by .01 seconds Saturday when he ran a 4.21.

It came on his second try, after he had run 4.25 on the first one. The unofficial time came in at 4.22 but the digitally corrected time was 4.21.

The real question is whether the new football version of the Flash can actually play the game at an NFL level.

Ross was in the league from 2017-21 after being the ninth pick of the draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He played in Cincinnati four years, one season with the Giants and was done with only 62 career receptions for 957 yards and 11 TDs. The TD count reflected his great speed but it takes more to be a receiver and this is the question about Worthy.

In fact, it seems even he has questions he feels a need to answer about his abilities as a receiver.

XAVIER WORTHY TIES THE NFL COMBINE RECORD WITH A 4.22u 40-YARD DASH 🤯 pic.twitter.com/DnBGRLjFb8
— PFF (@PFF) March 2, 2024

"Just the little fundamental things like looking the ball in all the time," Worthy told reporters at the combine. "Just coming down on blocks, not missing assignments."

There were questions about drops, and apparently it's not just footballs dropping.

"I feel like I had really good hands," he said. "I feel like it's just kinda focus drops for me.

"It's not a technique thing or a hand thing. I feel like it's focus."

The Bears had him for an interview at the combine, but he didn't do the putt-putt with Ryan Poles and staff. He did shoot baskets in the Eagles interview and liked the Browns plays in that visit because he felt they resembled what the Texas Longhorns do on offense.

40-YARD DASH RESULTS AND OTHER COMBINE RESULTS

San Francisco also had a great deal of interest.

"Kyle Shanahan is a mastermind with the plays, kinda been in the Texas facility a lot," Worthy told reporters. "Him and Shark (Texas coach Steve Sarkisian) are really good friends so I feel like me going into that offense would be a good situation."

Worthy, who is 6-foot-1, 172 pounds, also met with Dallas, Green Bay and Ross' old team, Cincinnati, which could lose receiver Tee Higgins after it was reported they won't put a franchise tag on him.

While Worthy has the focus and drops to overcome, he thinks teams will find he is determined to upgrade his receiver skills. He described himseslf as, "An explosive player, natural route-runner and toughness," Worthy said. "I feel like I play with a chip on my shoulder."

Worthy beat out LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. (4.33) for fastest receiver and his time was .07 seconds faster than defensive back Nate Wiggins from Clemson for second at the combine. Wiggins had the only other sub-4.3 time at 4.28. The only times yet to be recorded are by offensive linemen on Sunday, and they obviously won't be challenging for fastest combine 40 times.

Worthy needed to run fast just to beat his own teammate. Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell was third-fastest combine receiver at 4.34 seconds.

"A big-play threat," Worthy said of Mitchell. "Good high-point at the catch point. He says he's faster than me. I guess he's fast. I feel like a real true football player."

Worthy is faster, and it will be up to the NFL teams to determine whether he's a "real true football player."

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven