Chiefs sign ex-Patriots wide receiver
Dec 27, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Kansas City Chiefs helmet before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The Kansas City Chiefs are giving a promising young receiver a shot to revive his career.
Former New England Patriots wide receiver Tyquan Thornton agreed to a practice-squad deal with the Chiefs on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.
Source: Former #Patriots WR Tyquan Thornton is signing with the #Chiefs practice squad.
A fresh start for the former second-round pick who was waived Saturday. pic.twitter.com/PnV67x8yh9
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 18, 2024
The Patriots selected Thornton in the second round (No. 50 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. Thornton entered the season as a starter but was a healthy scratch in recent weeks. The 24-year-old was waived by New England on Saturday.
Thornton wowed Patriots scouts and coaches with a blazing performance at the 2022 NFL Combine. The former Baylor star set a would-be record with an unofficial 4.21 40-yard dash time. The official time was later calculated at 4.28 seconds, which is still among the fastest ever.
Following an underwhelming rookie season in 2022, Thornton suffered a fractured clavicle during the 2023 preseason and started the year on IR. He was unable to carve out a significant role when he returned later in the season.
The Chiefs currently have DeAndre Hopkins, Xavier Worthy and JuJu Smith-Schuster as their starting wide receivers. It remains to be seen if Thornton will be activated to the 53-man roster over the second half of the season.