The Kansas City Chiefs have placed safety Juan Thornhill on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list according to the NFL’s official transaction report.
A move to the PUP list means that Thornhill will not be permitted to practice until he’s medically cleared to do so by doctors and athletic training staff in Kansas City. Thornhill suffered a torn ACL during the Chiefs’ Week 17 win against the Los Angeles Chargers. He was sent to the injured reserve list and didn’t participate in the Chiefs’ postseason run after a tremendous rookie season.
Thornhill has spent the offseason rehabbing his injury and looks to be making some progress in his return to action.
God makes no mistakes.. blessed pic.twitter.com/vpfFYpTFgJ
— The_Juan_And_Only (@Juan_Thornhill) July 28, 2020
Thornhill can participate in Chiefs’ team meetings. He’s allowed to do conditioning and work with the training staff at the team facilities. He just can’t practice with the team while he’s on the PUP list. He can be activated from the PUP list at any time during training camp.
If Thornhill is not activated by the end of training camp, he’ll be transferred to the reserve/PUP list for the regular season. If that happens he won’t be able to practice for the first six weeks to start the season. After six weeks another six-week window begins when he can return to practice. By the end of those six weeks, Kansas City would have to decide to activate him or send him to the injured reserve list.
It was pretty clear that this move was coming after the Chiefs decided to sign Tedric Thompson, who also plays the deep safety position. This decision should allow Thornhill to ease back into things as he comes off of a tough injury. Keep in mind, he’s not even eight months removed from surgery to repair the torn ligament in his knee.
During a dominant rookie campaign in 2019, Thornhill recorded 58 total tackles, three interceptions, including one for a touchdown, and five passes defended and 16 games started. He didn’t give up a single play of 20 or more yards during the entire season.
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