Chiefs’ early bye timely after Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton hurt. Could Tyreek Hill be an answer?

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs probably weren't real happy when the NFL schedule was released and their bye fell this week.

Better to have it later in the season, when nicks and scrapes and bruises have accumulated, and a team with Super Bowl aspirations — as Chiefs have every year — is anticipating a postseason run that won't end until early February.

Yet the way things transpired in the Chiefs' 30-27 win in Las Vegas on Sunday, the bye may have come at an opportune time.

The Chiefs first watched top wide receiver Rashee Rice pull up following a catch and grab his hamstring, and subsequently learned he would be out for the remainder of the game. While the injury is not considered serious, Rice almost certainly would've missed at least one week, and the bye gives him a chance to get back on the field the next time the Chiefs do.

The more devastating injury happened later in the game: Tyquan Thornton was in the midst of the best game of his career when he was hauled down from behind after a long catch. His ankle got caught beneath and twisted at a gruesome angle, and Thornton was carted off the field.

He is expected to miss 12 to 16 weeks after dislocating his left ankle and tearing ligaments in it, a person with knowledge of the injury told The Associated Press on Monday. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hadn’t announced the details, said Thornton will have surgery this week.

So, the bye gives the Chiefs an opportunity to assess their wide receiver situation.

And perhaps negotiate a reunion.

It didn't take long after the injuries to the Chiefs' pass catchers for Tyreek Hill, their erstwhile star wide receiver, to post two letters on social media: “Hm.” Hill is still working back from a dislocated knee and torn ligaments suffered in September 2025 while he was with the Dolphins, but his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has indicated that he could be ready to play in November.

Such a reunion seemed unlikely before Sunday's game against the Raiders. Now it seems to make a lot of sense.

The Chiefs expect Rice to return, of course, but his hamstring strain underscores the fact that he's been prone to injury throughout his career. Xavier Worthy is their only other reliable wide receiver now that Thornton is out — Jalen Royals has struggled to live up to expectations, Nikko Remigio is a special teams ace but has scant experience with the offense, Cyrus Allen impressed in training camp but is still a rookie, and youngsters Omari Evans and Andrew Armstrong are on the practice squad.

“I tell you that it's next man up to go, and (wide receivers coach) Chad (O’Shea) does a nice job of rotating those guys in there so that they can get in, and it’s not completely foreign to them,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "When they get in there, they can roll with it.”

Still, it's not exactly an intimidating group of wide receivers, no matter how good Patrick Mahomes is at delivering them the ball.

The Chiefs have a week off to figure out a solution to their wide receiver problem, so the bye may have come at just the right time.

The timing might have worked out well for Hill, too.

The Chiefs at least have Kenneth Walker III to make life easier for Mahomes and the passing game. He eclipsed his career high set in the season opener against Denver with 177 yards rushing to go with a couple of touchdowns against the Raiders on Sunday.

For all the brilliance of Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, one thing his crew has struggled to do consistently is cover the tight end. Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer combined to catch 14 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown on Sunday.

The Chiefs challenged punter Matt Araiza to improve his ball placement in the offseason; he's long been known for his booming leg, but the Chiefs wanted to see more punts inside the 20. He put all five there on Sunday, averaging 47.6 yards in the process.

Oh, and Araiza alertly ran for a first down when Las Vegas decided to just ignore him on his first punt attempt.

The Chiefs drafted R Mason Thomas and Peter Woods in the early rounds in April to not only get better but also younger along their defensive line. Both have done some good things this season, but they combined for a single tackle against the Raiders.

The injuries to Thornton and Rice were the only significant ones on Sunday.

4 — The Chiefs are the only team left in the AFC with a perfect record through the first four weeks.

The Chiefs are off before hosting the Chargers on Oct. 18. It will be their first home game since beating the Colts on Sept. 20.

Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) jumps into the air before an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) talks with wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (2) as he is carted off the field with an injury during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Commanders have lost three games this season.

In the first defeat, they missed a late 2-point conversion that could have tied it. In the other two, they lost their quarterback to a first-half injury.

Maybe this team would struggle even at full strength, but Washington hasn't had much of a chance to test itself with its key players healthy.

“We can begin with something I've had to begin with way too often — some injury updates,” coach Dan Quinn said at the start of his Monday video conference with reporters.

The latest significant injuries for Washington: Receiver Jaylin Lane has a fractured and dislocated left ankle and is out for the season. Quarterback Marcus Mariota, who was playing in place of an injured Jayden Daniels, had to leave Sunday's loss to Indianapolis in London because of a sprained MCL — the same knee he hurt in training camp.

“He'll be working off to the side as it goes through the next week or so,” Quinn said.

Daniels missed the past 2 1/2 games because of a dislocated elbow on his non-throwing arm. Washington (1-3) is hoping he can return this coming weekend against the New York Giants, but the Commanders already missed an opportunity overseas.

After Mariota led Washington to a win over Seattle in Week 3, the Commanders faced an Indianapolis team that didn't play all that well Sunday. But after Mariota went down and Washington had to turn to rookie seventh-round pick Athan Kaliakmanis at QB, the Colts eventually took control and won 30-13.

Washington's offense has also been without standout left tackle Laremy Tunsil because of a torn left triceps muscle, and wideout Terry McLaurin and running back Rachaad White didn't play against Indy. Quinn talked for just over 11 minutes Monday. Almost the entire session was spent taking questions related in some way to injuries.

“I'm frustrated,” Quinn said. “But don't get it twisted. My belief in them isn't wavering.”

After forcing three turnovers in a win over Seattle, the Commanders had two takeaways against the Colts, helping Washington stay in the game for a while despite being down to its No. 3 quarterback.

“Defensively, I did see some improvement,” Quinn said. “I'd like to see us close the door more in the second half.”

Quinn was noncommittal on whether the Commanders would bring in a veteran quarterback to back up Daniels, now that Mariota has gone down with an injury. Washington was actually able to withstand Daniels' injury when it had to play without him against Seattle, but being without both him and Mariota tested the team's quarterback depth in a way few teams could handle well.

Odafe Oweh forced quarterback Daniel Jones to fumble on Indy’s first drive and then recovered the ball to set up a Washington field goal.

Without Daniels or Mariota available to create the threat of a credible passing game, Washington couldn't run the ball effectively against the Colts. Jacory Croskey-Merritt had 15 yards on nine carries. Kaytron Allen had 1 yard on three attempts.

White (shoulder) didn't play after a solid performance against the Seahawks the previous week. Austin Ekeler did manage 29 yards on just four carries.

Quinn is hopeful G Sam Cosmi (concussion/throat) and S Nick Cross (illness) can return to practice this week after they did not travel to London. He sounded less certain about McLaurin.

“We're still evaluating him,” Quinn said. “I'll give you a better update once we go through him working off to the side with the trainers.”

The Commanders were 2 for 15 on third down Sunday and 1 of 4 on fourth.

Washington hosts a New York team that is alone in first place in the NFC East under new coach John Harbaugh. The Giants are 3-1.

AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this report.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) passes the ball during an NFL football game in London, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) is tackled by Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) during an NFL football game in London, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane (83) is taken from the field injured during an NFL football game against Indianapolis Colts in London, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane (83) is taken from the field injured during an NFL football game against Indianapolis Colts in London, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane (83) is taken from the field injured during an NFL football game against Indianapolis Colts in London, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane (83) is taken from the field injured during an NFL football game against Indianapolis Colts in London, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Washington Commanders wide receiver Jaylin Lane (83) is taken from the field injured during an NFL football game against Indianapolis Colts in London, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)