With their star player suffering a fatal injury and being carted out in an ambulance, the Chiefs are in complete disarray.
For Super Bowl 2024, Patrick Mahomes will be missing maybe his greatest offensive lineman.
The Chiefs dealt a blow to the team’s offense on Friday by ruling out guard Joe Thuney, a 2023 All-Pro.
Although Thuney’s absence isn’t entirely surprising—he hadn’t practiced this week due to a pectoral injury he sustained in the divisional round—it will still be a significant loss in the big game.
Due to the same ailment, Thuney was also out for the AFC Championship game against the Ravens two weeks prior.
Nick Allegretti, a fifth-year veteran, is probably going to start in his place.
Andy Heck, the offensive line coach, stated, “I take my lead from [Chiefs head coach Andy] Reid,” as reported by NFL.com. “Next man up is what he’s always preached.” As a result, everyone practices and prepares in the same way. Nick Allegretti, you’re the next man up in this instance. Come on, let’s go. Simply intervene. It’s not a really large production.
“He intervenes, and everything goes smoothly.”
The 31-year-old Thuney is a three-time Super Bowl champion, having won one with the Chiefs the previous season and two with the Patriots in 2017 and 2019.
In addition to being a Pro Bowler in each of the previous two seasons, Thuney was a second-team All-Pro in 2019 and 2022 before making his first-team debut this season.
Allegretti, a seventh-round pick in 2019, was a member of the Chiefs’ roster for the two most recent Super Bowl victories. In his 74 regular-season games, he has made 13 starts.
In addition to Thuney, Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon is doubtful for Sunday’s game due to a groin issue.
With a groin issue, Jerick McKinnon might miss the Super Bowl.
Due to his designation on injured reserve, McKinnon has been limited in practice this week and will need to be activated to the 53-man roster in order to be eligible to play.
The 31-year-old last played on December 17 when the Chiefs defeated the Patriots.
He gained 192 receiving yards and 60 rushing yards on 21 carries during the regular season, scoring five touchdowns in all.
