Patriots receiver has the perfect mindset ahead of his return to the field on Sunday against the Jets

FOXBOROUGH, Mass - Tyquan Thornton is finally getting another opportunity. Throughout training camp, Thornton was taking snaps with the presumed 'starting' offense. However, the New England Patriots receiver has been a healthy scratch the last two weeks.

But Jerod Mayo told reporters that Thornton will be on the field on Sunday. “Tyquan has done a good job in practice. Looking forward to seeing him in a game,” Mayo said Friday.



“He will be at the game. He’s had a great week of practice, and he’ll be there, and hopefully it translates.” After Mayo said this, A to Z Sports spoke exclusively with Thornton about how he feels going into the game.

"It's a blessing just to get the opportunity," he said. "Got to go out there and take advantage of it." So what's his mindset? "Nothing different at all," the receiver said.

"Just coming out with the mindset to get better each and every day." And with that, he is also getting his first opportunity to play alongside rookie quarterback Drake Maye. "I'm excited," he told A to Z Sports.

"He's a young guy that's trying to make plays. We all got his back. We all are going to go out and play hard together.

" His entire NFL career has been a series of ups and downs. And this season is no different. But he keeps reminding himself that he gets to play football for a living, and that helps him stay motivated through it all.

"It's a blessing to play this game. So you got to look at it and look in the mirror and realize that," Thornton explained. "Everybody doesn't get to do this job.

"So I mean it hurts at that point, but you just got to come in the next weekend and put your best foot forward." In his first season, Thornton had 22 receptions for 247 yards and two touchdowns across 13 games played. However, in 2023, he only had 13 receptions for 91 yards across nine games.

And then, there's this year, where he hasn't started the way he would have hoped. Across five games played, he only has two receptions for 27 total yards. But since the Patriots have already ruled out rookie receiver Ja'Lynn Polk due to a concussion, Thornton will now take his spot.

Let's see if he rises to the challenge. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission..