A veteran of four Super Bowls, Joe Thuney is not expected to be in uniform for a fifth on Sunday. The pectoral strain the Chiefs’ All-Pro left guard sustained against the Bills is likely to force the AFC champions to make a substitution, via Yahoo Sports.
Andy Reid called Thuney, who picked up his first All-Pro nod this season, a longshot to play in Super Bowl LVIII. The Chiefs initially signed Thuney to help their O-line recover from the Buccaneers’ pass-rushing onslaught in Super Bowl LV. He entered the playoffs having missed only two games in three seasons with the Chiefs. The ex-Patriots draftee, however, appears set to give way to veteran backup Nick Allegretti once again.
Part of the Chiefs’ injury-reshaped offensive line the Bucs dominated three years ago, Allegretti returned to a starting role in the Chiefs’ AFC Championship Game win over the Ravens. Kansas City received strong play from its interior O-line this season, helping the team cover for less consistent work from tackles Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor. ESPN’s pass block win rate metric ranks Thuney first among all interior O-linemen, with center Creed Humphrey and right guard Trey Smith respectively slotted second and fourth.
Thuney, 31, served as a Patriots linchpin during the second leg of their dynasty. New England drafted Thuney in the 2016 third round and plugged him in as a starter immediately. That meant three straight Super Bowl starts. Thuney added a fourth Super Bowl appearance last year, playing alongside Humphrey and Smith in the Chiefs’ narrow win over the Eagles. Thuney landed as the first-team All-Pro left guard this season. Allegretti is a rather experienced backup, however, having played in 15 postseason games since joining the Chiefs as a seventh-round pick in 2019.
Should the Chiefs be prepared to make multiple roster moves, they could have a few pieces back from injury Sunday. They designated Jerick McKinnon for return from IR over the weekend. The passing-down back has not played since Week 15 due to a groin injury. The team also designated Skyy Moore and O-lineman Prince Tega Wanogho for return during the playoffs, but neither has been activated. Kansas City has until Wednesday to activate Moore or have him revert to season-ending IR. The Chiefs still have five IR activations remaining, giving them the flexibility to move all three back onto their roster. Though, it remains to be seen if the team is willing to create the necessary roster space.
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