Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs had an NFL season to forget last year, finishing with a 6-11 record and missing out on the playoffs for the first time in ten years. Now, the Chiefs have begun training camp in hopes of turning their luck around in the 2026 NFL season, which begins on Sept. 14 with a Week 1 matchup against Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos.
The Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce-led Kansas City dynasty hit a bump in the road last season. Despite opening the year 5-3 and looking like playoff contenders, the Chiefs lost eight of their final nine games, including their last six. To make matters worse, Mahomes suffered a torn ACL late in the season, putting his availability for the start of the 2026 campaign in jeopardy.
And although Mahomes is expected to be ready for Week 1, Reid could be without another offensive player going forward.
Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
Tyquan Thornton, after a college career with the Baylor Bears, was selected by the New England Patriots with the No. 50 pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The wide receiver spent three seasons in New England, appearing in 28 games and recording just 39 catches for 385 yards and two touchdowns.
But the Patriots elected to waive Thornton in the middle of the 2024 NFL season, before the Chiefs picked him up just days later. He remained on the practice squad for the rest of that year, but in 2025, he earned a bigger role in Coach Reid’s offense, tallying 19 catches for career-highs of 438 yards and three touchdowns
However, during Tuesday’s training camp session at Missouri Western State University (St. Joseph, Missouri), Thornton was seen getting carted off the field. While no injury has been confirmed, seeing him leave with a trainer could certainly be concerning for Reid and Kansas City.
“WR Tyquan Thornton just left practice in the front of a cart #Chiefs,” KSHB 41 News’ Matt Foster wrote on X.
The Chiefs will face the Bucs in their second of three preseason games on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
