The Kansas City Chiefs announced their official Super Bowl LVIII injury designations on Friday, and it's a mixed bag in terms of news for the Chiefs offense.
The Chiefs ruled out starting left guard Joe Thuney due to the pectoral injury that kept him out of the AFC Championship Game and prevented him from practicing leading up to the Super Bowl, meaning that Nick Allegretti will start in his place once again. The Chiefs also ruled out offensive lineman Prince Tega Wanogho, who remains on Injured Reserve.
There is good news on Friday's injury report for the Chiefs offense, as running back Jerick McKinnon is officially questionable for the Super Bowl despite being limited in practice all week while remaining on IR.
The best news on Friday's report is the full participation of wide receiver Rashee Rice, who was limited on Thursday due to an "ankles" designation. McKinnon and Thuney were the only players on the team who did not fully participate on Friday afternoon, as Wanogho did all week but is out anyway.
Speaking to media earlier in the week, Allegretti said he was preparing as if he'd be starting and noted that Thuney was helping him prepare for the Super Bowl matchup:
"I'm treating it like I'm playing, because that's how I have to mentally," Allegretti said to Aaron Ladd of KSHB 41. "He's also treating it that way so when a left guard coaching point comes up, we'll kind of look at each other and try to interpret it for each other. What that step means or what the angle means that we have to take. Having a guy like that who's been probably the best guard in this league for the last four or five yards — has not gotten his credit he deserves. Having a guy like that in your ear and helping you along the way... seeing him prepare, but also knowing the coaching points he's taking, I can apply to myself. He's been incredible."
Seven players — including Rice, defensive tackle Chris Jones, running backs Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire and others — don't carry designations into Sunday's game. They were all full participants in practice to close out the week. That bodes well on the availability front, especially for main contributors. While Thuney is out, Kansas City finds itself in generally a good spot entering the most important game of the season.
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