Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has had a revolving door at wide receiver while he has rehabbed the knee he tore the ACL and LCL in last season. Receivers Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Cyrus Allen have all missed time in camp due to injuries. Tyquan Thornton has been the one constant for Mahomes, and the two have had a good rapport in camp.
Thornton went down with a strained hamstring in practice Tuesday and was taken from the field on a golf cart. There’s no word as to how long he’ll be out, but hamstrings generally require multiple weeks to recover from.
Thornton’s absence opens a lane for Allen, who missed a few days with a bruised shin earlier in camp. Allen, a fifth-round draft pick, has been one of the buzz players in all training camps with the way he has performed in practice. The Kansas City Star’s Pete Sweeney tweeted that Allen was QB Patrick Mahomes’ favorite target earlier in camp, and it seems like he’s looking his way each time he’s out there.
Allen made his preseason debut Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams and caught two passes for 20 yards. One of those catches was a highlight-reel grab in which he climbed the ladder to haul in a high throw.
Allen was targeted five times in the first preseason game. Rice is still coming back from offseason knee surgery, and Worthy sprained the shoulder he dislocated last season. Thornton is projected to be the slot receiver in Week 1, but this hamstring injury could test his availability for Week 1. Allen has the size and talent to steal to job. This is something to keep an eye on as we enter Week 2 of the preseason. The Chiefs face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in preseason action Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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