The Kansas City Chiefs' fourth win of the season came at a steep price. Patrick Mahomes and the offense took care of business, scoring 30 points for the third time in four games. But they lost two wide receivers in the process, one of them likely for the long run.
Rashee Rice left the game early with a hamstring injury, but that was nothing compared to what happened next. Late in the game, Tyquan Thornton suffered a gruesome leg injury in what could've been his third score of the game.
The Chiefs' big-play specialist left the game with five receptions on eight targets for 111 receiving yards and two touchdowns, arguably his best career game in the league. Now, with him likely missing a big chunk — if not all — of the season, Andy Reid will have no choice but to trust Cyrus Allen and/or Jalen Royals to step up to the plate.
The Chiefs have to get Cyrus Allen and Jalen Royals more involved
While Rice's injury might not be long-term, soft-tissue issues tend to linger. Rice has been somewhat injury-prone over his four years in the league, among other things, so the team will likely err on the side of caution with him. As for Thornton, it might take a miracle for him to play again this season.
Considering that, rookie fifth-round pick Cyrus Allen should finally get some run after being a training camp darling. He showed flashes of being a solid possession receiver, and with Xavier Worthy's inconsistency, he might be the team's best choice to stay ahead of the sticks.
As for Royals, the Chiefs don't have a big-play specialist anymore. There has been some speculation about Tyreek Hill's return, but there's no telling how well he will play or whether he'll ever be fully healthy again after such a gruesome and complex knee injury.
That's where a player like Jalen Royals can come in handy. His explosiveness and ability to pile up yards after the catch should give Mahomes a vertical threat this team will miss with Thornton gone. He averaged 7.9 YAC and 3.00 yards per route run in his final season in college, per PFF.
The Chiefs are usually patient and honestly reluctant with their young receivers, but Royals has been with the team for two years now, so he should already be familiar with the system. He's also a ball-winner, hauling in 64.1 percent of his contested catches at Utah State.
The fact of the matter is that even if the Chiefs were interested in making a big move, there might not be many high-end candidates available. They can always trade for high-upside guys like Brian Thomas Jr. or Marvin Harrison Jr., but they will be expensive in both future salary and the cost to acquire them.
Xavier Worthy finally had a good game this season, accounting for 70 yards on four catches, including a long 41-yard catch of his own. Hopefully, he'll be able to build on that performance. But given the way Worthy has played since entering the league, banking all hope on that is a tall ask.
The Chiefs have no choice but to give their youngsters a chance, and it's not like the starters have raised the bar that much through the first three weeks of the season. As for Thornton, let's just hope this isn't as serious as it initially seems.
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