• Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver #80 Tyquan Thornton celebrates with teammates during the NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers at the Neo Quimica Arena Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 5, 2025. (Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA / AFP) (Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP via Getty Images)

Why Tyquan Thorton could be Patrick Mahomes’ new favorite target after Xavier Worthy injury originally appeared on The Sporting News

The Chiefs’ wide receiver room is open for the taking. After Xavier Worthy’s shoulder injury in week one and with Rashee Rice serving a six-game suspension, Patrick Mahomes’ list of targets is thinning.

Enter Tyquan Thorton. The fourth-year wideout was a deep threat for the Chiefs against the Chargers, ending with two receptions for 41 yards on four targets.

It’s not a gaudy line but the Chiefs didn’t see much room deep down the field, taking what the Chargers gave them with short passes to Hollywood Brown.

Before the game started, head coach Andy Reid said Brown and Thorton would be “filling the void” in Rice’s absence. That only became more necessary once Worthy was ruled out for the game.

With Rice suspended until week seven and Worthy out until further notice, the former second-round pick could see a lot of deep targets.

How did the Chiefs get Tyquan Thorton?
Thorton was drafted out of Baylor by the New England Patriots in 2022. He was selected 50th overall after registering a 4.28 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.

He had two stints on the injury reserve before being waived in November of 2024. A big critique on Thorton was his unreliable hands.

The Chiefs added him to their practice squad three days after he was waived. They then signed him to a future/reserve contract on February 11, 2025 and then made the 53-man roster entering this season.

He was originally expected to be a depth piece and now has a big role in Andy Reid’s offense.

It’s Thorton’s chance to redeem himself and Kansas City’s chance to find a diamond in the rough.