Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton suffered a dislocated ankle in Sunday’s 30-27 win over the Las Vegas Raiders and will undergo further evaluation to determine the extent of the injury. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the diagnosis after the team’s full evaluation Monday.
Thornton went down awkwardly in the fourth quarter after hauling in a 55-yard catch from Patrick Mahomes. Las Vegas Raiders safety Treydan Stukes dragged him down from behind, twisting his left leg and ankle under the tackle. Thornton’s foot appeared to be facing the wrong direction as he lay on the field, according to Yahoo Sports.
What The Team And Sources Said
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Sunday that Thornton’s ankle “doesn’t look good” and that the receiver would need further evaluation in Kansas City, according to the Associated Press. That evaluation confirmed a dislocated ankle, per Rapoport’s report cited by Bleacher Report. Further testing will determine how long Thornton will be out.
Mahomes offered support for his teammate after the game. “First off, I’m just praying for him,” Mahomes said. “You never want anyone to get injured and you’re hoping its better than it looked out there…
Hopefully he comes back healthy.”
Reid also praised Thornton’s standing in the locker room. “That’s a rough one when you see your teammates, especially a guy like Tyquan, who’s a great father and all that,” Reid said. “His attitude is unbelievable.
He’s great for the team and kind of a leader of that group in there.”s ankle “doesn’t look good” and that the receiver would need further evaluation in Kansas City, according to the Associated Press. That evaluation confirmed a dislocated ankle that requires surgery, per Rapoport’s report cited by Bleacher Report. No specific recovery timetable has been given, though a return later this season remains possible.
Hopefully he comes back healthy.”
“His attitude is unbelievable. He’s great for the team and kind of a leader of that group in there.”
Who Replaces Him In The Lineup
Thornton’s absence comes as the Chiefs are also dealing with a hamstring injury to Rashee Rice, who left Sunday’s game in the first quarter and did not return. The severity of Rice’s injury has not been determined. With both wideouts sidelined or limited, Kansas City is leaning on tight end Travis Kelce, though Bleacher Report noted he had a rough outing against the Raiders.
The Chiefs have also reached out to free agent receiver Tyreek Hill’s agent as a possible outside option, according to Mike Silver of The Athletic, as cited by CBS Sports. Hill is working back from a knee injury. That contact remains a report, not a confirmed signing.
Season Context
Thornton was off to a career-best start before the injury. He finished Sunday’s game with five catches for a career-high 111 yards and two touchdowns, pushing his season totals to 219 yards and two touchdowns through four games. Those numbers had him on pace for his best season since entering the league.
What’s Next
The Chiefs improved to 4-0 with the win over the Raiders but now face uncertainty at wide receiver. No recovery timeline has been announced. An update is expected once further testing and any procedure is complete.
Reporting from The Associated Press, Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports and Bleacher Report contributed to this story.
