On August 19, 2023, the Kansas City Chiefs faced a medical emergency during their game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Backup defensive end BJ Thompson suffered a seizure and went into cardiac arrest during a special teams meeting, leading to his being transported to the hospital in stable condition.
Thompson’s agent, Chris Turnage, later provided an update on his condition, stating that he was awake and responsive. The team quickly responded to the situation by canceling practice and media availability.
Despite only appearing in one game the previous season, Thompson had been primarily utilized on special teams and recorded two tackles. The Chiefs are expected to conclude OTA workouts for the week and begin mandatory minicamp on June 11, followed by official training camp in July.
