Chiefs’ Tyquan Thornton Growing Chemistry with Mahomes

The highlight of Thornton’s night came early in the third quarter when Mahomes connected with him for a 5-yard touchdown to give Kansas City a 16-6 lead. For Mahomes, it was more than just a score — it was a sign of the chemistry that’s beginning to develop with a receiver who was once considered a depth piece.

“He’s fast, he’s a big target, and he runs good routes,” Mahomes said. “The chemistry is still developing but plays like that build trust quickly.”

Mahomes pointed to the sequence late in the first half when a deep ball to Thornton was overturned on replay. On the very next snap, the quarterback went right back to him with a perfectly placed sideline throw.

“Once I hit that one to Tyquan, I thought from then on I did a good job of recognizing when to take shots, when to hit the stuff underneath, and just letting guys make plays,” Mahomes said.

A Fresh Start in Kansas City

Thornton’s path to this moment has been anything but smooth. Drafted in the second round by the New England Patriots in 2022 after a standout career at Baylor, he entered the league with blazing speed — running a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. But injuries derailed his time in Foxborough. A fractured clavicle as a rookie and nagging hamstring issues in subsequent seasons stunted his development. By the time the Patriots waived him in November 2024, Thornton had just 35 career receptions for 491 yards and four touchdowns across three seasons.

“It means a lot,” Thornton reflected. “When I first got here, coming from New England, I saw how these guys practice. It’s so efficient — the details, the routine plays. I was just a guy coming in, trying to be part of that, making those plays too.”

The Chiefs, always on the lookout for undervalued talent, took a chance on Thornton. Now, with injuries sidelining rookies Xavier Worthy and Jalen Royals, Hollywood Brown still recovering, and Rashee Rice serving a six-game suspension, Thornton has become a key contributor.

Through three games this season, he has nine catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns. To put that in perspective, he’s nearly doubled his entire yardage total from 2023 with the Patriots (47 yards in six games) in less than a month.

Rising in a Shorthanded Group

Kansas City’s wide receiver depth chart has been in flux since last season. Skyy Moore and DeAndre Hopkins were released, while JuJu Smith-Schuster returned as a veteran presence. For now, Thornton and Smith-Schuster are Mahomes’ primary outside targets, with tight end Travis Kelce continuing to draw the most attention from defenses.

“Practice reps become game reality,” Thornton said. “You work at the little things, challenge yourself, and when Sunday comes, you give yourself a chance.”

Head coach Andy Reid praised Thornton’s persistence and preparation. “He stayed ready,” Reid said. “He came in here, worked his tail off, and when his number was called, he stepped up. That’s what you want to see.”

For the Chiefs, the hope is that Thornton’s emergence will provide much-needed balance for an offense that has struggled to find consistent production from its wideouts. Mahomes has spread the ball around early this season, but Thornton’s combination of size (6-foot-2), speed, and route-running has stood out.

“He’s still learning the system, but you can see the confidence growing,” Mahomes said. “

 Seizing opportunities

Thornton knows the opportunity in front of him may not have come without the misfortunes of others, but he’s determined to make the most of it.

“I just try to stay ready,” Thornton said. “When the ball comes my way, I want to make plays. That’s what this game is about.”

After Sunday’s performance, Thornton is no longer just a feel-good story about a player salvaging his career. He’s quickly becoming an essential piece of Kansas City’s offense — and his chemistry with Mahomes may be the spark that steadies the Chiefs’ passing attack as the season unfolds.