We are less than two weeks from the start of the 2025 NFL regular season. The vibes are good and the expectations high in Foxborough in anticipation of head coach Mike Vrabel's first season in charge. Now that the New England Patriots have wrapped up their preseason schedule, all eyes have turned to Tuesday's roster cutdown deadline that will determine the final 53 players the team will be bringing into the season.
Yet, the preseason continues through the weekend, with players on the roster bubble putting in their final efforts to make the cut. On Friday night, one former Patriot made a strong case to make his new team's roster by stealing the show with an electric play.
Mahomes goes long to Tyquan Thornton!
— NFL (@NFL) August 23, 2025
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Former Patriots WR Tyquan Thornton Impresses in Preseason Finale
Tyquan Thornton made an impressive 58-yard catch on a deep ball by Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes early in the first quarter. While this was his only catch of the game, it capped off an impressive training camp and preseason for the 25-year-old playmaker.
For Patriots fans, this is a very surprising development. Thornton had physical and athletic tools that made him an intriguing prospect ever since he was drafted in the second round in 2022. Despite his impressive combination of length and speed, however, Thornton was never able to put it together in New England. Not only did he struggle with injuries, missing 12 games in his first two seasons, but he was also not productive when he was on the field.
The biggest issue for Thornton was his lack of strength, which prevented him from making catches in traffic.
The combination of Thornton's length and speed has always been intriguing. Yet, he consistently struggled to track the ball and make the catch. He wasn't strong enough to make catches in traffic and constantly dropped easy passes. Through 28 games in a Patriots uniform, Thornton had a 32.9% receiving success rate, finishing with 39 catches, 385 yards, and two touchdowns.
All of this eventually resulted in Thornton's release in November 2024. Nine months later, he is about to make the Chiefs' roster, much to the confusion of Patriots fans. Whether he will be able to make an impact under Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes remains to be seen.