“Chiefs Lineman Had No Idea How Bad Tyquan Thornton’s Injury Was, Both Their Reactions After Realizing Say Everything [VIDEO] “

Tyquan Thornton turned in the best play of his afternoon in Las Vegas on Sunday. He hauled in a 55-yard catch that pushed the Chiefs deep into Raiders territory.

The moment should have been a highlight. Instead, it turned into one of the more unsettling scenes of Week 4.

Safety Treydan Stukes landed on Thornton’s leg during the tackle, in what looked like a hip-drop. His left foot twisted in an unnatural direction as he went down near the goal line. He got on his knees to celebrate, but went right back down in pain.

What the cameras caught next said just as much as the injury itself. Chiefs lineman Mike Caliendo rushed over to check on Thornton, clearly still riding the high of the big catch moments earlier. He had no idea yet how serious the injury actually was, and neither did much of the stadium. Other teammates gathered around the two of them within seconds, forming a circle on the field.

Caliendo knelt down next to Thornton. For a moment, he looked like a teammate simply checking in after a big gain and wondering what was wrong. Thornton pointed down at his own ankle, directing Caliendo’s eyes to the leg for the first time.

Caliendo looked down and recoiled in visible shock as he turned away from Thornton, pushing himself up off his knees.

The whole exchange lasted only a few seconds, but it captured the moment better than any replay could have. It mirrored what was happening in the broadcast booth at the same time.

CBS announcers Jim Nantz and J.J. Watt told squamish viewers to look away from the replay, one they had no choice but to cover because of how big the play was.

Thornton was fitted with an air cast on the field. He was then carted off and taken to the locker room.

The Chiefs went on to win 30-27, going down to the wire in Vegas. But they will rue the loss of two members of their receiving corps, with Rashee Rice also going off with a hamstring injury earlier in the game.