The Kansas City Chiefs will be without Joe Thuney on Sunday due to injury, creating a feeling of concern for the offensive line. The All-Pro offensive guard will be sidelined with a pectoral injury, forcing the Chiefs to consider an experienced backup option.
The next man up is Nick Allegretti, who has started 12 games in his career and been a member of Kansas City’s last two Super Bowl titles. Guard Trey Smith spoke highly of Allegretti’s abilities and told reporters that he is a mentor in the locker room.
“Yeah, Nick (Allegretti) is awesome, man. Talk about a hard worker, a guy who really loves the game and brings passion to the game week in and week out,” said Smith. “[He is] a guy that I’ve been able to sort of lean on from time to time early in my career, especially just for advice and different things to help my game get better. So definitely a guy that can bring it play after play after play.”
During Smith’s conversation with reporters, there was still uncertainty about whether Thuney would play on Sunday. Smith understood Thuney’s presence on the field was essential but still had faith in the offensive line without him.
“It’s the next man up mentality,” Smith explained. “Joe is a great player—the best guard in the league. We’ll be good. Just have to keep working.”
Allegretti was a seventh-round draft pick of the Chiefs in 2019. He understands the team schemes and the task before him, battling with the highly touted Baltimore Ravens defensive line.