This Player Reportedly ‘Checked Out’ Amid Patriots’ Awful Season

The 2024 season was tough for virtually everyone on the Patriots’ roster, but it was a particularly lousy campaign for New England receivers.

The Patriots didn’t receive much from any of their wideouts, as tight end Hunter Henry led the team in nearly every major receiving category. The group left a lot to be desired from the get-go, and two receivers from the initial wide receiver room didn’t even make it the full season in New England.

One of the wideouts who moved on was Tyquan Thornton, a current member of the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad. Relocating was welcomed by Thronton, who reportedly wasn’t subtle about his disinterest in playing for the Patriots.

“Two days before getting waived on Nov. 16, former second-round pick Tyquan Thornton was late to the facility and didn’t practice, according to sources, who added Thornton had checked out mentally after it was clear he wouldn’t play anymore,” The Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed and Andrew Callahan wrote in a column published Thursday.

Thornton was a complete non-factor in Foxboro, Mass., where he caught a combined 39 passes for 385 yards with two touchdowns over two-plus seasons. And barring injuries to Chiefs pass-catchers, the 24-year-old probably isn’t going to make any impact in Kansas City either.

Time will tell if Thornton becomes even a mildly useful NFL receiver, but at this point, it doesn’t seem like the Patriots will regret saying goodbye to him.