Tyquan Thornton’s dislocated ankle late in the Chiefs’ Week 4 win over the Las Vegas Raiders might mean he’s lost for the entire season. That’s a brutal blow for a team that just moved to a perfect 4-0, but it gets worse: top wideout Rashee Rice is also sidelined for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers with a hamstring injury. He didn’t practice all week coming out of their Week 5 bye, and while it’s not a long-term worry, it’s a huge hit for this weekend.
Who’s Stepping Up in a Battered Chiefs WR Room?
With Thornton likely out for the year and Rice sidelined, the Chiefs had no choice but to raid the practice squad for help. Per Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest, they’ve elevated wide receivers Justin Watson and Andrew Armstrong for Sunday’s crucial game. These guys are practice squad warriors, so they’ll automatically revert back after the game, but for now, they’re thrust into the spotlight. Watson is no stranger to the Chiefs, having played for them from 2022-25. He racked up 119 catches for 1064 yards and seven touchdowns in those three seasons. He signed with the Houston Texans in 2025 but didn’t make their roster this year after being limited to just three games last season due to injuries. He only just rejoined Kansas City’s practice squad on Monday, right after Thornton went down. Armstrong’s journey is even wilder. He came into the league as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins in 2025, then signed a Reserve/Future deal with the Chiefs in January. He fought hard in training camp and preseason, but just fell victim to the numbers game at the position during final cutdowns. He immediately re-signed to the practice squad, though, and if he’s active on Sunday, it’ll be his NFL debut. Talk about jumping into the fire!
Chargers Facing Their Own Injury Nightmares
It’s not just the Chiefs dealing with the injury bug. The Chargers are reportedly nursing over 20 players on their injury reports this week, so they’ve been making their own frantic roster moves. On Saturday, they elevated cornerback Isas Wexter and offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill from their practice squad. They also signed linebacker Caleb Murphy from the practice squad to fill in for fullback Alex Ingold, who was placed on their Reserve/Injured list earlier in the week. Plus, they activated second-year wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith from the Reserve/Injured list, which meant releasing former Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to make space. It’s going to be a battle of attrition out there on Sunday.
The Chiefs are 4-0, riding high, but now they’ve got to face the Chargers with two new faces in the wide receiver rotation. This game is huge for maintaining that perfect record, and it’s going to be fascinating to see if Watson can pick up where he left off with the team and if Armstrong can make a splash in his NFL debut. Get ready for some wild football this Sunday!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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