Patrick Mahomes acknowledged that it wasn’t until three full games into the 2025 NFL season that he truly recognized a rising strength in the Kansas City Chiefs’ roster.
And that realization came during the team’s much-needed 22-9 win over the New York Giants on Sunday, September 21, their first victory of the season.
While Mahomes‘ stat line was relatively modest, completing 22 of 37 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown, it was clear that one wide receiver is rapidly becoming an essential figure in the Chiefs’ evolving offense: Tyquan Thornton.
The 2022 second-round pick caught five passes for a team-high 71 yards and secured Mahomes‘ only touchdown pass of the night, a five-yard strike in the third quarter that gave Kansas City a 17-7 lead after the extra point.
“I knew he was going to be a good football player, but he’s even exceeding my expectations,” Mahomes said of Thornton, via Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star.
Injuries create unexpected opportunity for Thornton
Thornton wasn’t supposed to be the central figure in the Chiefs’ receiving corps. But due to early-season setbacks, he’s quickly taken on that role – and impressed in the process.
Xavier Worthy, the Chiefs’ explosive rookie, remains sidelined with a dislocated shoulder, while Rashee Rice is serving a six-game suspension. With both players unavailable, the team has had to lean on lesser-used options, and Thornton has stepped up when it matters most.
His chemistry with Mahomes was evident against the Giants, particularly in crucial moments where Travis Kelce wasn’t the primary option.
The decision to target Thornton in red zone plays signals a growing level of trust that could shape the Chiefs’ offense for the remainder of the season.
Though the offense has lacked rhythm through three weeks, Thornton’s emergence could be the early-season jolt the team needs to survive until it’s back at full strength.
When will Xavier Worthy return?
While Thornton continues to carry a heavier load, Chiefs fans are eager to see when Xavier Worthy might return. The wideout suffered a dislocated right shoulder in Week 1 during a collision with Kelce and hasn’t played since.
Head coach Andy Reid has described his condition as “day-to-day,” adding that Worthy is rehabbing and running routes in practice, though sometimes with protective gear.
Crucially, the Chiefs have not placed him on injured reserve, a strong indicator that his return could come sooner than expected.
“He’s testing the shoulder. We’re watching it closely,” Reid said. “We’ll see how it feels going into the weekend.”
If he continues progressing without setbacks, Worthy could return before Week 6, potentially giving Mahomes two dynamic wideouts just as Rashee Rice finishes his suspension and returns in Week 7.
Once Rice, Worthy, and Thornton are all available, alongside Hollywood Brown and Kelce, the Chiefs could find themselves with one of the deepest and most dangerous receiving units in the AFC.
For now, though, it’s Tyquan Thornton who is answering the call, and in doing so, he may have just changed the shape of Kansas City’s passing attack.
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