Although the Kansas City Chiefs remain undefeated at 4-0 after Sunday’s 30-27 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, the win proved costly. The team entered the season with lingering questions at the wide receiver position, only to see two wideouts leave the game with injuries.
On the team’s second possession, Rashee Rice hurt his hamstring on a seven-yard catch (that was ultimately nullified by penalty). Ultimately, the team described his return as doubtful. Head coach Andy Reid had no word on the severity
after the game, but appreciated the rest of the room stepping up in Rice’s absence.
“Rashee Rice tweaked his hamstring there”,” said Reid. I will tell you that the rest of the guys picked up the pace on things and did a nice at the receiver position, which I appreciate. The next man up jumped in, and they kept rolling.“
One of those players who stepped up was veteran Tyquan Thornton, who hauled in five catches for 111 and two touchdowns. Sadly, the best game of Thornton’s five-year career came to an end in the fourth quarter when he suffered a gruesome ankle injury while making a 55-yard catch.
Reid all but confirmed that Thornton’s 2026 season is over, although he does expect the speedster to be able to travel back to Kansas City with the team.
“With Tyquan Thornton’s ankle, that doesn’t look good,” the coach acknowledged. “He’s going to fly back with us, and we’ll get further evaluation later.”
In postgame comments, it was clear what Thornton means to his teammates and the emotions involved in seeing him suffer a major injury.
“That’s a rough one,” Reid added, “especially a guy like Tyquan [who is] a great father, a great husband and all that. Just his attitude. His attitude is unbelievable. He’s great for the team and kind of a leader for that group. For that to happen, especially with the year’s he’s having — he’s had a phenomenal year to this point — and on a great play on top of that, it’s a tough one to see for all the guys.”
A personal foul moved the Chiefs to the Las Vegas two-yard line on Thornton’s catch. One play after seeing his teammate carted off of the Allegiant Stadium field, Kenneth Walker punched in a key touchdown. Walker was not about to let Thornton’s incredible catch be for naught.
“You never want to see that,” Walker said after the game. “It could happen to anyone. It’s kind of motivating. You have to play for your brother that much harder.”
No one on the Chiefs knows more about how quickly an injury can happen than quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who suffered torn knee ligaments in December that ended his 2025 campaign early.
“It’s tough,” Mahomes said in his postgame remarks. “Those guys, they put in so much work. I was in that spot last year. Everybody puts in so much work to be out there and to play the game they love. One play can change your season. For him, he’s put in all the time and all the work and had a tough play there. You hope for the best, but at the same time, you want to show him support. I know how it is when you’re in that position. It’s like the world’s closing in on you, and you want to make sure you have the support from your teammates there.”
Mahomes also knows the importance of Thornton knowing his has the support of his teammates.
“He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had,” the face of the league declared. “He truly is. He has a smile on his face every time that he’s in the building. So, we’re in his corner, and he knows that he has us behind him.”
