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Chargers safety Tony Jefferson ejected after brutal hit on Chiefs WR Tyquan Thornton

by: Alex Byington6 hours ago_AlexByington

Los Angeles Chargers safety Tony Jefferson was ejected from Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs for targeting following a helmet-to-helmet hit that left Chiefs receiver Tyquan Thornton prone on the field for several minutes. Jefferson’s hit sparked a bit of an on-field shoving match as Kansas City players including tight end Travis Kelce took offense and went after the Chargers’ veteran defensive back

Thornton, who would return to the game, remained on the turf as KC trainers attended to him for several minutes as Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and other players knelt in support. The hit on Thornton and subsequent delay came with the Chargers leading 16-13 with 13:38 remaining in the fourth quarter Sunday.

It wasn’t the first time Jefferson was responsible for a harder-than-necessary hit to a Chiefs receiver Sunday, earlier delivering multiple devastating blows to Rashee Rice, which might explain why the former SMU alum nearly came to blows with Jefferson during the scrum.

You can watch the entire sequence below:

Jefferson’s hit on Thornton occurred on a 31-yard completion from Mahomes to the Chargers’ 31-yard line, where Jefferson appeared to lower his helmet and deliver a hard helmet-to-helmet hit. Jefferson finished with five total tackles and one pass defended, while Thornton ended the game with just two catches for 47 yards. Rice had a team-high seven receptions for 51 yards in the game.

Patrick Mahomes injury update: Chiefs QB goes down in pain, exits game limping vs. Chargers

Star Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered an injury late in the game against the Chargers on Sunday. The injury happened with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand brought down Mahomes, and it appeared Mahomes’ left knee buckled.

Mahomes was on the ground for a few minutes, and the training staff helped him to the locker room. Gardner Minshew came in to replace Mahomes, and he threw an interception, which led to a 16-13 victory for the Chargers. The Chiefs are now eliminated from playoff contention.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters after the game that Mahomes will underdgo an MRI on his left knee.

“It didn’t look good,” Andy Reid said, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. 

— On3’s Brian Jones contributed to this report.