Tyquan Thornton had the best game of his NFL career, and it ended with a left ankle injury that stunned a national TV audience. The Kansas City Chiefs receiver was carted off during Sunday’s 30-27 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
The result kept Kansas City unbeaten at 4-0. The cost may be steep.
The Play
Thornton caught a 55-yard pass from Patrick Mahomes down the left sideline with 3:25 left in the fourth quarter. Raiders safety Treydan Stukes brought him down and landed across his ankle, twisting the foot in a way that was hard to watch.
Reports say Thornton held the ball and did not immediately grasp how bad it was, likely because of adrenaline. Medical staff placed the left leg in an air cast and carted him off.
Before the injury he had five catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns, his first 100-yard game in the NFL. The 55-yard grab set up the Chiefs’ go-ahead touchdown on the next play.
Caliendo’s Reaction
Chiefs lineman Mike Caliendo ran over to check on Thornton without knowing how serious it was. When Thornton pointed to his ankle, Caliendo looked down and recoiled, pushing himself up off his knees and turning away.
That reaction told viewers what the replay already had. CBS announcers Jim Nantz and J.J. Watt also reacted strongly, with Nantz saying, “Oh my goodness. I don’t even want to look at it.”
What Is Known About the Injury
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Thornton dislocated his ankle and is out indefinitely. That is the extent of the official-style description available. The Chiefs ruled him out with an ankle injury, and the team had not announced a specific diagnosis at the time of the early reports I reviewed.
No recovery timeline has been reported. I am not going to guess at one. Whether surgery is needed, how long he will miss and what the season looks like for him are all unanswered, and the Chiefs have not said.
What It Means for Kansas City
The loss matters because Thornton was finally producing. For a receiver room that was already short, losing a player who just had a breakout game hurts. One report also lists Rashee Rice as having left the game with a hamstring injury, which makes the situation worse.
That is why the Tyreek Hill chatter is not random. The Chiefs are among the teams reported to be in contact with him, according to one outlet. Nothing is done, and nothing has been announced.
For now the focus belongs on Thornton. A dislocated ankle is a serious injury, and his best day as a pro should not have ended like this. Chiefs fans will be hoping for a clear update soon.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.