Kansas City Chiefs free safety Juan Thornhill (22) runs for a touchdown during the first half of Sunday’s football game against the Oakland Raiders on Dec. 1, 2019 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The Chiefs won, 40-9. (Tammy Ljungblad/Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
After tearing his ACL in Week 17, Kansas City Chiefs safety Juan Thornhill had surgery in January and is now on track to play in the 2020 season opener.
INDIANAPOLIS — One of the best young players in football is on the road to recovery.
After tearing the ACL in his left knee against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17 , Kansas City Chiefs rookie safety Juan Thornhill was forced to sit on the sideline as his team won Super Bowl LIV.
If things continue progressing well, he might be able to play in Kansas City’s next meaningful game.
On Tuesday, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said Thornhill’s January surgery to repair the damaged knee went very well, adding the team believes he’ll be ready for the 2020 season opener and potentially the early portion of training camp.
While the exact date is obviously unknown, the progress Thornhill is making puts Kansas City in a good position as the offseason gets underway.
If needed, the Chiefs can place Thornhill on the Physically Unable to Perform List (PUP) come the start of camp and activate him when he’s ready. This would allow him additional time to recover while giving the team a full 90-man roster in early August.
However, if Thornhill remains on the list going into Week 1 he must sit out the first six games of the year.
Veach believes none of that will come into play for the 24-year-old, who earned All-Rookie honors from Pro Football Focus and the Pro Football Writers of America.
When paired with All-Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu, the Chiefs had one of the best tandems in the league. With both signed through the 2021 season (and Thornhill through ’22), Kansas City’s back end is primed for ample success.