The Kansas City Chiefs have received a huge boost from fourth-year receiver Tyquan Thornton in 2025. Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report labeled Thornton as the team’s breakout player through the first five weeks of the 2025 NFL season.
“This is a toss-up between Thornton and the team's first-round rookie left tackle, Josh Simmons, but fewer expected the former to be such a big factor,” Gagnon wrote. “Injuries have paved the way, but the fact is the 25-year-old ex-Patriot is averaging a league-high 20.9 yards per catch.”
Thornton wasn’t on anybody’s radar heading into the season, but he's solidified himself as a key receiving option for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, especially in the first three weeks of the season when both of his fellow receivers, Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice, were unavailable.
The four-year veteran was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, but he failed to solidify himself in three years with the team. From 2022 to 2024, he totaled just 385 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
After being released, the Chiefs signed Thornton to their practice squad in November of 2024. He had something that head coach Andy Reid liked, and he earned his place on the 53-man roster.
The 25-year-old made two catches for 41 yards, including a 38-yard catch, in his debut for the Chiefs in their season opener. Since then, he has tallied 231 yards on 11 receptions. He has already surpassed his career high receiving yards in a season with 272 through just five weeks. Thornton leads the league with 20.9 yards per reception, highlighting his importance in a Chiefs offense that thrives on explosive plays.
Thornton leads Kansas City in receiving yards and touchdowns, beating out the likes of Worthy, Juju Smith-Schuster, Hollywood Brown, and Travis Kelce. It isn’t just a fluke run of games – Thornton has legitimately carved out his role in a Chiefs offense hoping to make another deep playoff run.
A tough matchup lies ahead for Thornton and the Chiefs as they face the 4-1 Detroit Lions in Week 6. The Chiefs will need Thornton’s big-play ability in the matchup in an attempt to keep up with a Lions team that leads the league with 34.8 points per game. After a demoralizing loss on Monday, the Chiefs need a win to get back to .500.