Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs pushed their record to a perfect 4-0 in the 2026 NFL season on Sunday, grinding out a 30-27 win against the Las Vegas Raiders even though the offense never quite settled into its usual rhythm. Mahomes finished 15 of 30 for 225 yards and two touchdowns, and it was the ground game that ended up carrying Kansas City home.
That burden fell to Kenneth Walker III, who delivered with 177 rushing yards and two touchdowns, highlighted by a 76-yard breakaway and capped by the 2-yard score that put the Chiefs ahead for good with 3:21 remaining.
Tyquan Thornton matched him through the air, catching five passes for 111 yards and both of Mahomes’ touchdown throws, including a 55-yard grab that set up Walker’s go-ahead run. It was that same sequence, though, that turned costly.
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Rashee Rice had already left the game in the first quarter with a right hamstring injury, and Xavier Worthy continues to play through a shoulder issue of his own, so the offense was already thin at receiver before the night took another turn.
Thornton’s ankle gave out when safety Treydan Stukes brought him down late in the fourth quarter, and the dislocation was bad enough that team doctors had to reset it on the field. He is now out indefinitely.
With the wide receiver room suddenly stretched even thinner, a familiar name has resurfaced in Kansas City. Reports have suggested that the Chiefs were already engaged with free agent Tyreek Hill before Sunday’s game.
ESPN reported after the game on Sunday that contact with his camp has stayed consistent, with a team source saying the Chiefs have “remained in contact” with Hill and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus.
Hill spent six seasons with the Chiefs, catching 479 passes for 6,630 yards and 56 touchdowns on his way to a Super Bowl alongside Mahomes before being dealt to Miami.
He’s been working back from a dislocated left knee and torn ACL suffered with the Dolphins last September, an injury serious enough that Miami released him this past February. Rosenhaus has said doctors want Hill to wait until at least October, and Hill himself has pointed to a November return.
Kansas City will use its Week 5 bye to regroup before hosting the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Oct. 18, with kickoff set for 4:25 p.m. ET at Arrowhead Stadium.
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