The Chiefs may have come out of Week 4 with more than one receiver problem on their hands.
Tyquan Thornton left Kansas City’s game against the Raiders after a frightening injury late in the fourth quarter, shortly after hauling in a huge catch for Patrick Mahomes. Thornton went down after the play with what looked like a serious ankle injury, and the reaction on the field said plenty.
Jim Nantz and J.J. Watt urged viewers to look away, CBS immediately cut away from the replay, and teammates gathered around Thornton as he stayed down.
It was a rough turn for a player who had been central to the Chiefs’ offense in this game. Thornton scored a touchdown earlier and looked like Mahomes’ most reliable target on the night.
Then, with the Raiders having just taken a 19-17 lead and Kansas City needing a response, Mahomes hit Thornton on a 55-yard deep ball that set the Chiefs up at the goal line. Kansas City finished the drive and moved back in front.
Now the bigger concern is how long Thornton will be out. He’s almost certain to miss time, and that leaves the Chiefs thin at receiver after Rashee Rice also exited earlier with a hamstring injury. If both are sidelined, Xavier Worthy, Jalen Royals and rookie Cyrus Allen are the names most likely to step into bigger roles for Mahomes.
Thornton did wave to fans as he was carted off, a small sign that at least offered a little comfort in the middle of a nasty-looking scene. The hope now is that he can return later this season.
In Other News...
Russell Wilson Just Added Fuel To Chiefs Raiders Week 4
Russell Wilson is already putting a little extra heat on a rivalry game that usually needs no help. The former NFL quarterback said he believes the Las Vegas Raiders can upset the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4, even going as far as suggesting Las Vegas could leave the afternoon matchup at 4-0. He also singled out Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins for the way he has started the season, adding another layer of buzz to a game that will be shown on CBS at 4:25 p.m. EST.
For the Chiefs, its another reminder that the margin for error in the AFC West is never very large, especially when an opponent starts drawing confidence from outside the building. Kansas City has spent years as the standard in the division, but predictions like Wilsons only sharpen the attention around a Week 4 meeting that already carried plenty of weight before anybody started talking about records and momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Andy Reid Is One Raiders Win From An Ironic Stadium Milestone
Andy Reid has already made plenty of history at Allegiant Stadium, and the next trip there offers another chance to add to it. Since the building opened, Reid has piled up six wins there, most of them coming against the Raiders, with the Chiefs Super Bowl 58 victory mixed in as well.
Reid now sits tied with former Raiders head coaches Josh McDaniels and Antonio Pierce for the most wins by any coach at the venue, which adds a neat layer to an already familiar matchup. One more win over Las Vegas would push him alone to the top of that list, an ironic milestone for a coach whose success in that stadium has so often come at the Raiders expense. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Face An Early AFC West Test Fans Can't Ignore
The Chiefs are heading into Week 4 with a division test that already feels bigger than a September game should. Kansas City and Las Vegas are tied atop the AFC West, and the matchup brings together two teams trying to set an early tone in a race that usually does not sort itself out until much later in the season. Between the expert predictions, the team analysis and the familiar pressure that comes with facing a divisional opponent, this one has the look of a game fans will keep an eye on all week.
For Kansas City, the intrigue goes beyond the standings and into how the roster stacks up against a Raiders team still searching for traction under new leadership. The discussion around this matchup has centered on performances, key players and coaching changes, with plenty of speculation about how the game could unfold. What matters most for the Chiefs is simple enough: a chance to protect their place in the division and get an early read on a rival that could linger in the picture all season. [Read more 🡒]