Former Chiefs player wonders why Tyquan Thornton doesn’t play more for KC
After the Broncos scored the first touchdown of Sunday’s game in Denver, the Chiefs faced a third-and-7 on their 28-yard line.
The Chiefs’ offense had been mostly stagnant to that point, managing just a pair of field goals, and Kansas City seemed to be in danger of having to give the ball right back to the Broncos.
Then came the biggest play of Sunday’s game. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw a 61-yard bomb to Tyquan Thornton and gave the Chiefs some life. Three plays later, Kareem Hunt bulled his way into the end zone and the Chiefs had tied the game.
Thornton also made a dazzling defensive play, tracking down Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian following an interception. Thornton forced a fumble that the Chiefs nearly recovered before the ball went out of bounds.
Thornton was targeted only twice. He played just 16 snaps in the Chiefs’ 22-19 loss to the Broncos, and a former Kansas City player thinks that should change moving forward.
LeSean McCoy, a running back who played for the Chiefs in 2019, believes Thornton is among the top-two Chiefs receivers.
“I don’t (know) why he don’t play more ... (Thornton is) the second best wr after RICE if we being honest,” McCoy wrote on X.
For the season, Thornton has 15 receptions for 372 yards with three touchdown receptions. He played 75% or more of the snaps in the Chiefs’ first three games, but Thornton has been on the field for just 35 snaps over the past three games.
This story was originally published November 18, 2025 at 10:52 AM.
