Chiefs receiver Tyquan Thornton is set for surgery after dislocating his ankle in Week 4 against the Raiders, but get this: there’s a “small chance” he could actually return late this season. Tests on Monday confirmed the need for the procedure, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, with an expected recovery time of three to four months. For an injury that looked as brutal as this one, that flicker of hope is absolutely wild.
The Play That Shook the Field
This whole thing went down late in the fourth quarter on Sunday when Thornton hauled in a massive 55-yard catch. The dude didn’t even realize how bad it was at first! He was busy celebrating his huge play before it hit him what happened. Cameras briefly showed the severity of the left ankle injury, then immediately cut away. He needed an air cast to get off the field, and later, doctors had to put the dislocated ankle back into place. Monday’s full evaluation confirmed surgery is a go. It’s tough news for any player, especially when you’re on a roll like Thornton was.
Thornton’s Monster Day and the Chiefs’ Outlook
Before the injury, Thornton was having a straight-up monster day, snagging five passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Think about that, he entered the game with six catches for 108 yards on the season, meaning he nearly doubled his season totals in one game. He’d already established career highs in receiving yards and touchdowns *before* exiting the game. Drafted 50th overall in 2022, Thornton spent his first three seasons with the Patriots before joining the Chiefs in 2025, where he set career highs last season with 438 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 23.1 yards per catch. While losing him is a blow for the undefeated 4-0 Chiefs, Zenitz reported a “relatively positive outlook” because that late-season or even playoff return is still on the table. How big would that be?
Chiefs Dig Deep for the Win
Despite the gut-punch of Thornton’s injury, the Chiefs rallied hard. Kenneth Walker III scored one play later, then again less than 20 seconds later after the Raiders fumbled the ensuing kickoff. Kansas City ultimately prevailed, 30-27, staying perfect at 4-0 and handing the Raiders their first loss of the season. Walker absolutely rumbled for 177 yards and two scores, proving to be a key contributor yet again. Even with the comeback, Patrick Mahomes knew how critical Thornton was. “First off, I’m just praying for him,” Mahomes told CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson. “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.” If that “small chance” of a return comes through, it could be a massive boost for the Chiefs as they look to keep their perfect season rolling into the late stages.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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