The Kansas City Chiefs got a scare at practice when Tyquan Thornton was carted off after a lower-body injury during a team drill.
Media members watching the club’s open session saw Thornton leave the practice facilities in the front seat of a medical cart after the issue flared up on the main fields. The play happened during a standard situational period, with Thornton trying to haul in a vertical throw down the sideline before going to the turf.
It’s the kind of setback Kansas City can’t afford to brush off. Thornton has emerged as a useful deep threat for the Chiefs after a slow start with the New England Patriots, giving the offense another weapon as it moves forward without Travis Kelce as a number-one option. Drafted 50th overall in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he has found a home in Kansas City, and having Patrick Mahomes at quarterback has helped.
In the 2025 NFL regular season, Thornton played in 14 games and finished with 19 catches for 438 yards and 3 touchdowns. His 23.1 yards per catch stood out as a major part of his value.
The team has not yet provided a specific diagnosis for the injury, and the severity remains unclear. Still, any missed time would be a blow, especially after Mahomes tore his ACL last year. Thornton’s production could have been even better, and a lengthy recovery would put more strain on Kansas City’s passing game heading into the regular season opener.
Andy Reid is expected to face plenty of questions about Thornton’s status throughout the week.
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