The Kansas City Chiefs are signing wide receiver Tyquan Thornton to their practice squad, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler later added that Thornton drew interest from 12 teams around the league, including the New Orleans Saints.

Source: Former #Patriots WR Tyquan Thornton is signing with the #Chiefs practice squad.

A fresh start for the former second-round pick who was waived Saturday. pic.twitter.com/PnV67x8yh9

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 18, 2024

Thornton, 24, entered the league as a second-round selection out of Baylor by the New England Patriots in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Patriots actually traded with Kansas City during that draft for the No. 50 pick to select Thornton. The Chiefs received two picks in return, including No. 54, which they used to select wide receiver Skyy Moore.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound receiver appeared in 28 games in three seasons (2022-24) for New England (13 starts), accumulating 39 catches for 385 yards and two touchdowns. Shoulder injuries in 2022 and 2023 limited his production.

Thornton — much like JuJu Smith-Schuster — became an odd man out in a young Patriots receiver room after the team selected rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in the first four rounds of this year’s draft. New England waived him this past weekend.

Kansas City likely covets Thornton’s speed: he was recorded running a 4.28 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL Combine.

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60 seconds of new #Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton pic.twitter.com/k2fbwRWKhz

— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) November 18, 2024