The Kansas City Chiefs have been known for their potent offensive attack throughout the partnership between head coach Andy Reid and starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
While the pieces around Mahomes have changed over the years, his presence under center has been one of the primary reasons why the offense has been as successful as it has been. Entering the 2025 season, there are plenty of familiar faces at wide receiver, tight end, and running back to help support Mahomes.
However, one newcomer has been so impressive thus far that his play earned him some early praise, as well as a word of caution, from Reid.
Andy Reid Sends Warning to Surprise Chiefs WR Tyquan Thornton
After spending his first three seasons with the New England Patriots, former second-round pick Tyquan Thornton joined the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason on a one-year, $1.1 million contract that included no guaranteed money.
Needless to say, a player in his position typically isn't the focus of comments from the head coach during the opening days of training camp, but Thornton has been that impressive since joining Kansas City. It is still very early in the process, as Reid stated, via Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports, but the former Baylor Bears standout can carve out a role for himself in this offense if he can keep this level of play up throughout camp.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid on WR Tyquan Thornton: "I like what I've seen. He's working hard. He's made some big catches. Working his routes. Playing physical in his transition game. He's just got to keep coming, we're still (early) in this thing here."
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) July 24, 2025
With players like Hollywood Brown, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalen Royals, and Skyy Moore ahead of Thornton on the depth chart, he will have to earn whatever opportunities he receives with the Chiefs, and Reid's comments echo that stance.
Part of the reason why Thornton received no guaranteed money as part of his deal is directly related to the lack of production he enjoyed while on the Patriots. In 28 games played, Thornton has only reeled in 39 catches on 76 targets, and those numbers have decreased each year since the wideout entered the league in 2022.
With that lack of production to lean on, Thornton has been doing all that he can to show his worth to the coaching staff in Kansas City. One of the ways he is doing that is by working out at the "gunner" position with the Chiefs' special teams unit.
For a player who ran a 4.28 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine back in 2022, serving in a role where you're asked to be the first line of defense against punt returns is another way for Thornton to make an impact for Kansas City.
As Reid said, Thornton has "to keep coming" in the manner he has to start training camp if he wants to make this team.