The Chiefs’ Week 4 win over the Raiders moved the resurgent team’s record to 4-0, but the victory depleted the team at wide receiver. Rashee Rice left the game with a hamstring injury, and Tyquan Thornton encountered a longer-term setback.
As Tyreek Hill reunion rumors persist, the Chiefs will be without Thornton for an extended period. The recently re-signed wideout suffered a dislocated ankle, and tests Monday revealed a timeline. Thornton’s upcoming surgery will knock him out for three to four months, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
This keeps the door open for a possible late-season return, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adding a “real chance” exists Thornton could reemerge down the stretch. The front end of this timetable would put a playoff comeback in play, while the back end would only keep a potential Super Bowl LXI return (if applicable) in the equation.
Although Thornton did not impress in New England, he has begun to develop in Kansas City. The Baylor product has been with the Chiefs since shortly after his Patriots exit, signing with Kansas City’s practice squad midway through the 2024 season. The Chiefs turned to Thornton early last year, seeing injuries to Rice and Xavier Worthy affect their passing attack, and he has continued to look like a promising player in Andy Reid’s offense.
After averaging 23.1 yards per catch last season, the former second-round pick re-signed on a two-year, $11MM deal in March and has operated as the Chiefs’ Marquise Brown replacement. Thornton has 11 receptions for 219 yards and two touchdowns this season. Both the TDs came in Kansas City’s 30-27 win over Las Vegas. Thornton caught five passes for 111 yards in Week 4.
Rice left earlier in the game, and Rapoport calls that a “minor” hamstring issue. The Chiefs have a Week 5 bye, making it possible Rice — who has been one of this NFL period’s least reliable players in terms of attendance — could be back without missing a game.
This is a major setback for the Chiefs, who have not seen Worthy — his Combine 40-yard dash record notwithstanding — become a quality deep threat. The Chiefs gave Thornton $7.4MM guaranteed at signing; that covers $2MM of his $5.4MM base salary next season. This injury certainly could affect the franchise’s willingness to keep Thornton in 2027, but given his level of play early, the Baylor product being tied to a $5.5MM-per-year deal looked to be a bargain.
The Chiefs are one of the teams to reach out to Hill, and they look like the frontrunners here. The future Hall of Famer is attempting to recover from a severe knee injury and could face the prospect of a suspension, due to an NFL investigation into his ex-wife’s claims of domestic abuse. But this appears a reunion to closely monitor in the coming weeks. For now, the Chiefs have rookie Cyrus Allen and second-year player Jalen Royals as backup options. Returner Nikko Remigio rounds out K.C.’s receiving corps.
