With roster cuts approaching, there’s only one additional opportunity for NFL players to make lasting impressions on their respective clubs. The Kansas City Chiefs may have most of their group sorted out, but some spots do appear up for grabs as August 26 approaches.
During this stretch, many training camp darlings will end up parting ways. Some, however, could latch on with the team or wind up on the practice squad. Where does wide receiver Tyquan Thornton stand?
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, special teams coordinator Dave Toub may have revealed the answer on accident.
Dave Toub Potentially Revealed Tyquan Thornton’s Standing on Roster
Toub, head coach Andy Reid’s top assistant, has some control over the end of the roster. Oftentimes, players at the bottom of the depth chart will play special teams. Toub’s influence is regarded as significant relative to other coordinators around the league. His observations carry weight.
Fortunately, Thornton seems to be in his good graces. That’s without even having a defined role on special teams.
âGot to find a role for him,” Toub said. “Heâs definitely found a role on the offense; I donât think thereâs any question about that. He showed up there, Pat [Patrick Mahomes] has a lot of confidence in him, and all the offensive coaches have confidence in him. Now Iâve got to find a role for him on teams, whether heâs going to play gunner, heâs going to be a kick returner, heâs going to play end on punt return. Is he going to play a two on the kickoff?”
Toub even took it a step further. Doubling down on needing to secure a spot for Thornton on teams, he also mentioned the wideout depth chart briefly.
“Heâs got to play somewhere being a third, fourth, or fifth receiver â those guys got to play on special teams because theyâre taking up roster spots,” Toub said. “But the thing about it is heâs a slight guy, so heâs got to use his speed, heâs got to use his quickness to get around people. Heâs not going to run over anybody like [Ashton] Gillotte. We just got to find a role for him. Heâs open to it; heâs been great, and heâs getting better and better at gunner. Heâs showing up a little bit more.â
Special teams is the ticket for plenty of players around the league. In the Chiefs’ preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals, Thornton logged just four snaps there. Versus the Seattle Seahawks, that total rose to five.
That isn’t slowing down the hype train, though.
Piecing Together Chiefs’ Wide Receiver Picture With Preseason Winding Down
It seems like forever ago that Thornton went 50th overall to the New England Patriots in the NFL Draft. Somehow, it’s only been a handful of years. The former Baylor standout doesn’t turn 25 until the regular season is underway. He’s in just his fourth season in the league. That leaves the allure of potential hanging in the balance, and Thornton wants to cash in on it in Kansas City.
The top of the wideout room feels set in stone. Regardless of whether or when he’ll be suspended, Rashee Rice is the top dog. Alongside him are Xavier Worthy and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster is locked into a spot, by all accounts. So is rookie Jalen Royals.
Thornton, presumably, is battling with players like Nikko Remigio â a Toub favorite â and Skyy Moore. Jason Brownlee has a preseason touchdown, but a lot would have to break right for him to make the team.
It’s an interesting contradiction. If Reid is going to roster someone who won’t play much on offense, it’s typically because they’re a special teams ace for Toub. Thornton has never logged a single special teams snap in the regular season. He returned seven kickoffs in college.
Yet here he is, being spoken about like someone who’s already made the final 53.
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