Tyquan Thornton Injury: 4 Best Replacement Options for Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs improved to 4-0 in Week 4 but lost two wide receivers due to injury, including one that could end Tyquan Thornton's season.

by Ryan Dodson

Oct 5, 2026

Tyquan Thornton

Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton had the best game of his career Sunday with five catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Fellow receiver Rashee Rice went down earlier in the game with a hamstring injury, and Thornton stepped up. However, in the fourth quarter, on a 55-yard reception that set the Chiefs up for a score, he suffered a dislocated ankle.

It looked gruesome, but there is a sliver of hope. Thornton is expected to undergo surgery on the ankle, and the expected recovery time is three to four months. There’s a chance he could return late in the season or in the postseason.

Here are the four best options to replace Thornton:

JuJu Smith-Schuster

Schuster has had two stints and three seasons with the Chiefs. He had 18 receptions for 231 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games with KC in 2024. He took part in training camp with the New York Giants but didn’t make the team to open 2026. He knows the offense, and it would be a quick transition when the Chiefs return to action from their Week 5 bye.

Tyreek Hill

This is the one everyone is talking about, and it could happen. Hill had his best years with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and coach Andy Reid. He suffered a catastrophic knee injury last season with the Miami Dolphins, in which he dislocated his kneecap and tore multiple ligaments. He’s targeting a November return, which could become problematic for a team in need of help at receiver now. The salary cap could also be an issue. The Chiefs are 28th in the league with just under $3.6 million in cap space.

Gabe Davis

Davis is a capable receiver who had 48 catches for 836 yards and seven touchdowns with the Buffalo Bills in 2022. The last two seasons, though, he has combined for just 32 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns. He’s still just 27 years old, and there should still be enough tread on the tires to be a factor.

Mecole Hardman

Hardman has had three stints with the Chiefs and had some standout moments in the postseason. He hasn’t had more than 15 receptions in any season since 2022. He could provide depth, but the team is probably better served to work in young receivers like Jalen Royals and Cyrus Allen.