Tyquan Thornton has been more impactful in three weeks representing the Kansas City Chiefs than in the past two seasons with the New England Patriots. Seriously.
Thornton has more yards through his first trio of contests as a Chief than he produced in 15 games as a Patriot across 2023 and 2024. Let that sink in for a moment; it's a laughable fact that speaks to his presence (or lack thereof) in Foxborough.
This is someone whom the Patriots used their second-round pick in the 2022 draft to select. Whether Thornton merited such a high selection is another part of revisionist history that New England supporters have tried erasing from their memories. Nevertheless, he continues reminding them of what could've been in the early goings with Kansas City, punctuated by a strong Week 3 primetime showing.
Ex-Patriots draft bust Tyquan Thornton is changing the narrative after primetime breakout vs. the Giants
Seeing Thornton set single-game career-highs across the board in a 22-9 victory over the New York Giants must've stung for Pats fans. Then, to make matters worse, he was featured alongside Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones as Sunday Night Football's players of the game. Talk about rubbing salt in a freshly opened wound.
Notably, Thornton marks the second consecutive instance we saw an ex-Patriot spotlighted on NBC's postgame coverage (h/t Mike Kadlick of CLNS Media). Kicker John Parker Romo got the same treatment after converting all five field goal attempts in his Atlanta Falcons debut.
Given Kansas City's depleted passing attack, Thornton has operated as Mahomes' primary option, particularly against the Giants. The veteran wide receiver continued to step up, securing five of nine targets for 71 yards and a touchdown. His short score gave the Chiefs much-needed breathing room to avoid a disastrous 0-3 start, and put them up by two possessions in the second half.
Late in the fourth quarter, Thornton made an acrobatic 33-yard highlight-reel grab on 3rd-and-10 that effectively put the match out of reach. He was a few feet away from his second pay dirt trip of Kansas City's clash with the Giants. Nevertheless, Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt punched it in on the next play, emptying the MetLife Stadium crowd.
It's early, but Mahomes and the Chiefs have ostensibly entrusted Thornton in a way the Pats never did thus far. The speedy wideout has been a crucial addition for a Kansas City receiving corps sans Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. His ability to take the top off a defense as a deep threat has been on full display, which was hardly the case in New England.