Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy, fresh off his breakout Super Bowl LIX performance, was sidelined almost immediately during the team’s season opener in Brazil against the Los Angeles Chargers. On the Chiefs’ first offensive drive, Worthy collided with teammate Travis Kelce on a crossing route, injuring his right shoulder and exiting the game. He was officially declared out in the first quarter, leaving the full extent of the injury to be determined pending an MRI.

New Protections Tested in Real Time

The timing could not have been worse for bettors. Worthy had been one of the most popular picks on daily fantasy shortlists and in prop and parlay wagers. His absence triggered a cascade of voided bets, disputed wagers, and refunds across the sports betting landscape. Millions of dollars were affected, and thousands of customers took to social media looking for answers.

Several operators had recently introduced new safety nets for early player exits, and the Worthy situation put those programs into practice on a large scale. FanDuel’s Bet Protect program, unveiled just days before the game, offered coverage for eligible wagers. According to FanDuel, “eligible pre-live straight bets, parlays, and SGPs that included a Worthy player prop will be returned to you in Bonus Bets — no action needed on your part.” The operator clarified that straight player prop stakes would be refunded in Bonus Bets, while parlays and same-game parlays would be recalculated with new odds excluding the voided leg.

DraftKings Support reminded users that Worthy-related wagers would still be marked as losses, but “eligible wagers would receive a payout within 24 hours.” ESPN BET emphasized its coverage through a newly announced injury protection program, posting, “We’ve got your back!” and explaining how refunds and voided bets would be applied.

Fanatics, which had pioneered early-injury refunds through its Fair Play initiative, also confirmed that Worthy’s injury triggered a substantial payout. “Thanks to Fair Play injury protection, the shoulder injury triggered a $1.5-million refund on all Worthy prop bets,” the operator stated, as reported by Covers. The company explained that all single-player prop wagers involving Worthy, whether pre-game or in-game, were refunded in cash. Parlay bettors saw the Worthy leg voided while the remaining selections continued.

Not All Bettors Made Whole

Despite these protections, the experience was far from uniform. Operators, including BetMGM, Hard Rock Bet, and Caesars Sportsbook, did not offer equivalent refunds, adhering instead to existing terms and conditions that do not compensate bettors for early player exits. This inconsistency left many customers empty-handed and angry.

FanDuel, DraftKings, ESPN BET, and Fanatics all engaged customers directly through social media, explaining the scope of their protections and how payouts or credits would be applied. FanDuel promised follow-up emails and linked to its Bet Protect terms and conditions to avoid confusion.

But for bettors who placed wagers at sportsbooks without injury coverage, the outcome was stark. Many took to social media to vent their frustration, some even threatening to abandon platforms that did not provide relief. Given the competitiveness of the U.S. betting market, analysts suggest those threats may now carry real weight, as players weigh loyalty against more consumer-friendly policies.

The Worthy case illustrates how new injury protection programs can make or break customer trust. While Fanatics, FanDuel, DraftKings, and ESPN BET moved quickly to reassure and refund players, other operators’ refusal to budge may intensify customer churn.

Sportsbooks had already been experimenting with player-friendly initiatives before the 2025 season, but Friday’s events provided the first high-profile stress test. With betting volume high and a star player involved, Worthy’s injury exposed how much variance still exists in how sportsbooks treat their customers.