![[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Sep 5, 2025; Sao Paulo, BRAZIL; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) looks dejected after a NFL game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Corinthians Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jean Carniel/Reuters via Imagn Images](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_106,w_2333,h_1312/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/220/01k54vekqgt247r4zwat.jpg "[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Sep 5, 2025; Sao Paulo, BRAZIL; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) looks dejected after a NFL game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Corinthians Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jean Carniel/Reuters via Imagn Images")
Heading into their Week 2 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs will be without their top two wide receivers. Xavier Worthy is out with a dislocated shoulder, while Rashee Rice is serving the second of his six-game suspension.
The Chiefs were prepared not to have Rice for the foreseeable future, as they found before the season started that he would not be back until sometime in October. That said, his teammates are not pleased with the NFL’s ruling and sent a not-so-subtle message ahead of Sunday’s game against the Eagles.
WR Tyquan Thornton was seen wearing a “Free 4” shirt (h/t Matt Foster of KSHB 41 News), which has a picture of the third-year wideout, as he walked towards the locker room. Meanwhile, star tight end Travis Kelce took the field for warmups in that same attire.
Travis Kelce, Tyquan Thornton Show Displeasure with Rashee Rice’s Suspension
Before the league handed out its ruling on Rice, there was some uncertainty about how long he would be suspended. The NFL, the player, and the union reportedly couldn’t agree on discipline, which led to Rice having his disciplinary hearing set for September 30.
As we know, the league dropped the hammer on Rice on August 27, which the Chiefs reportedly knew was coming down the pipeline. General manager Brett Veach said as much to reporters, and it worked out in KC's favor. They were able to keep eight wide receivers on the 53-man roster after the roster deadline.
At the same time, while Thornton doesn't agree with the league’s decision, Kansas City hopes that he, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Hollywood Brown can hold down the fort.
Hollywood Brown led Kansas City with 10 receptions (16 targets) for 99 yards in Week 1, while Smith-Schuster had five receptions (five targets) for 55 yards. Thornton had two receptions (four targets) for 41 yards, but he might’ve had better numbers had Patrick Mahomes not missed him on a deep shot early against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Nonetheless, the Chiefs are planning on Thornton and Kelce to be part of the crew that helps make up for the current WR losses.