Chiefs' Thornton to undergo ankle surgery, miss 3-4 months

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton will undergo surgery for a dislocated ankle, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. He is expected to miss three-to-four months, per Rapoport.

Thornton could return late in the season or during the playoffs, Rapoport adds. The exact surgery date and a precise return date have not been confirmed.

The injury occurred on a 55-yard reception late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 30-27 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chiefs improved to 4-0 with the victory.

THE PLAY AND THE FALL

Thornton hauled in a 55-yard reception late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 30-27 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, a catch that immediately became the defining moment of his breakout afternoon. After being tackled, he stood up to celebrate the play but then fell back to the turf upon realizing the severity of his injury.

Thornton was carted off moments later, ending his day — and, per Rapoport, likely his regular season — on the spot where the celebration turned to pain. The exact moment of the dislocation within the play is not specified in the source.

The Chiefs improved to 4-0 with the victory, but the cost was steep. Thornton finished with team leads of five catches, 111 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns, numbers that now sit beside an uncertain timeline for his return.

A BREAKOUT START