Juan Thornhill leaves Chiefs-Chargers game with knee injury

The Kansas City Chiefs defense will be without starting safety Juan Thornhill for a bit after watching him leave with a knee injury in the second quarter.

The Kansas City Chiefs came into Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers with two primary goals: winning the game to stay alive for a first-round bye in the postseason and to avoid major injuries. So far on Sunday afternoon, neither goal is going particularly well.

Starting safety Juan Thornhill went down early in the second quarter as the Chargers were threatening to score on the Chiefs with a non-contact injury that made it immediately clear he’d suffered a knee injury. He was helped off of the field and he was been deemed “questionable” to return to the Chiefs. He was then downgraded to “out“.

Thornhill has been a revelation at safety throughout the season for the Chiefs as an immediate starter next to Tyrann Mathieu. General manager Brett Veach remade the position after the release of Eric Berry, and Thornhill slid right in at free safety and has provided great play from the team’s opening game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

On the year, Thornhill has caught 3 interceptions and even returned one for a touchdown. He also has 5 passes batted and 56 tackles on the season.

The Chiefs secondary has made a complete about face this season after being the biggest weakness on a porous defense last season. Thornhill is a big part of that as the team’s second round pick out of Virginia.

In addition to the loss of Thornhill for the interim, the Chiefs are also working without cornerback Bashaud Breeland who also left the game due to an illness. He was also questionable to come back.