Tyreek Hill, Top Chiefs FA and Trade Targets After Tyquan Thornton, Rice Injured Amid NFL Rumors

The Kansas City Chiefs are 4-0, but they may need to look for help on offense after two injuries on Sunday.

Receivers Tyquan Thornton (ankle) and Rashee Rice (hamstring) were forced out early in Sunday’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The extent of their injuries is unclear, but the Chiefs could be without them for a while.

If the Chiefs decide to look for an outside receiver, Tyreek Hill, Brian Thomas Jr. and DeAndre Hopkins could be among their top targets.

Hill hasn’t played since last September, when he suffered a gruesome knee injury while playing for the Miami Dolphins. Hill was unsigned this offseason while rehabbing his injury.

Hill has given fans some indications that he’s ready to make a return, and he posted a message Sunday suggesting he might be available for the Chiefs.

The Athletic’s Michael Silver noted that Hill is considering a return in November, adding that Kansas City should be interested in him.

Even though Hill has recovered from his injury, it is unlikely that he will still have the same speed and explosiveness as before. Still, he knows the Chiefs offense well since he played alongside Patrick Mahomes for years and could provide some help as they get their two best receivers back on the field.

The Jacksonville Jaguars reportedly turned down offers for Brian Thomas Jr. this offseason, but they might be willing to revisit some of those trades after the season starts.

In four games, Thomas recorded just 105 yards and one touchdown on nine receptions. He was the Jags’ top target as a rookie in 2024, but hasn’t been able to match the success early in his career.

Jacksonville has two solid options in Parker Washington and Jakobi Meyers, so it might be able to pick up some assets for Thomas.

While Hopkins is currently the offensive coach for Georgia Tech, he said in August that he had not yet retired. It’s hard to say what would entice him to return to the NFL, but the idea of ​​playing for a championship contender would surely excite him.

Like Hill, Hopkins has played with Mahomes before, so it wouldn’t be too difficult for him to get acclimated.