Chiefs’ Tyquan Thornton suffers ankle injury after career game vs. Raiders

Tyquan Thornton’s career game unfortunately included a gruesome injury. The Chiefs’ wideout suffered a left ankle injury after making a 55-yard catch late in the fourth quarter. Thornton initially didn’t know that he had suffered an injury after making the catch. He began celebrating his big play before he realized what had happened. 

Cameras initially showed the severity of Thornton’s injury, but then immediately stopped showing any replays. Thornton received an air cast to get off the field.

Thornton’s injury occurred after he had a monster day. He caught five passes for 111 yards and two scores. Thornton entered the game with six catches for 108 yards. 

“It doesn’t look good,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of Thornton’s injury. “He’s gonna fly back with us, and we’ll get further evaluation later.”

The 50th overall pick in the 2022 draft, Thornton spent his first three seasons with the Patriots before joining the Chiefs in 2025. He set career highs last season with 438 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 23.1 yards per catch. 

Thornton’s teammates made sure that his 55-yard catch would not go in vain. Kenneth Walker III scored one play later and scored again less than 20 seconds later after the Raiders fumbled the ensuing kickoff. 

Kansas City prevailed, 30-27, improving to 4-0 and handing the Raiders their first loss of the season. 

Walker rumbled for 177 yards and two scores and was again a key contributor in a Chiefs win. The Chiefs wouldn’t have beaten the Raiders without Thornton, however. 

“First off, I’m just praying for him,” Patrick Mahomes told CBS Sports lead sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson afterward. “You never want anyone to get injured, and you’re hoping it’s better than it looked out there. Praying for him, and hopefully he comes back healthy.”  

With Thornton injured, the Chiefs will have to lean more on their other playmakers, which include Walker, Xavier Worthy, Travis Kelce, and Rashee Rice, who missed the majority of Sunday’s game after injuring his hamstring in the second quarter. 

The Chiefs will have time to rest and recover during their Week 5 bye before hosting the winless Chargers in Week 6.