The former second-round pick was waived by the Patriots midseason and landed on Kansas City’s practice squad. He never made an appearance for the team but will get a shot at a roster spot this summer. The Chiefs also signed WR Justyn Ross, WR Jason Brownlee, S Deon Bush, TE Baylor Cupp, DT Siaki Ika, OT Chukwuebuka Godrick, DT Fabien Lovett, QB Chris Oladokun, CB Darius Rush, and CB Eric Scott to R/F deals.

Thornton was waived by the Patriots last Saturday and now has a new home in Kansas City. The former No. 50 overall pick from the 2022 draft class has had a rough start to his career, appearing in just 28 games through three seasons while posting a line of 39-385-2 in those games. Thornton broke out in his fourth and final season at Baylor when he caught 62 passes for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns and became a second-round pick the following year. He blazed a 4.28 at the NFL Scouting Combine, but the speed has yet to translate to any kind of professional success. Now on the Chiefs’ practice squad, Thornton will look to restart his career with one of the league’s best teams.

New England used a second round pick on Thornton (50th overall) just three years ago, but he was a healthy inactive each of the last two weeks while the Patriots dressed six wide receivers. Rumors swirled that the team was open to trading Thornton before the deadline, but there weren’t any takers. He’s likely to go unclaimed on waivers before finding a spot on another team’s practice squad. Thornton ends his Patriots career with 39 catches, 385 yards and two touchdowns in 28 games.

Thornton is a healthy scratch for the second straight week. K.J. Osborn was also a healthy scratch last week, but will be active in Week 10, meaning the Pats will dress six wide receivers. Defensively, Kyle Dugger and Christian Elliss are out due to injury, while the newly claimed Ngakoue will miss this week as well.