#Chiefs OL Joe Thuney celebrated his 32nd birthday on Monday ahead of Kansas City’s Week 12 matchup against the Carolina #Panthers.
The Kansas City Chiefs have relied on their offensive line to keep Patrick Mahomes on his feet, and on Monday, one member of the team’s front five celebrated a birthday.
Veteran guard Joe Thuney was the latest player to earn a birthday shoutout from the Chiefs on Twitter after Kansas City’s disappointing loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Thuney turned 32 years old, and he has a lot to celebrate as a four-time Super Bowl champion.
The former NC State Wolfpack star entered the league as a third-round pick of the New England Patriots in the 2016 NFL draft and signed with the Chiefs as a free agent in 2021 after Kansas City’s loss in Super Bowl LV.
Expect Thuney to continue making his presence felt in Week 12 when the Chiefs travel down South to face the Carolina Panthers with a chance to earn their tenth win of the regular season and maintain their spot as the AFC’s top team by record.
Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid comments on the offensive line’s progress: ‘They’re good players’ | @EdEastonJr
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed his offensive line during Wednesday’s press conference, focusing on the game packages featuring extra offensive tackles recently required to be eligible as receivers.
“So, our called player was 64 (Wanya Morris), so we could sub Kingsley (Suamataia) out. When we put Mike (Caliendo) in, and Mike could come in – you have to sub the guy out – the called player,” said Reid. “So, to do what we were trying to do, you had to make that move, but I mean, it shows you the trust that we have in Kingsley, too, because we came in and threw the ball. It didn’t matter what the play was. We have two good young guys. They’re getting better as we go.”
Reid has rarely had an issue regarding his highly praised interior offensive line, as each player is dominant in their roles with All-Pro accolades.
“Well, they’re (Trey Smith, Creed Humphrey, and Joe Thuney) all best buddies; they’re always together. They’re good players, and they work at it. They’ve played together long enough where they kind of know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and cover up the weakness with each other’s strengths.” said Reid. “Again, these challenges that we had – and this week won’t be any different. Their (Denver Broncos) inside guys are great, so it’ll be another big challenge for those inside three to execute. Just like last week was, that was a big challenge. They’re good friends, they spend a lot of time together, they study, they’re smart guys.”
The offensive line’s play has dramatically benefited the running game, as Kansas City remains one of the league’s better-rushing teams. The rotation of running backs due to injury hasn’t affected the on-field production, with Kareem Hunt quickly emerging as a standout in the group this season.
Three #Chiefs offensive linemen were named to Pro Football Focus’ ‘Midseason All-Pro’ team this week.
The Kansas City Chiefs are the hottest team in football and seem poised to complete the NFL’s first-ever Super Bowl three-peat after getting off to a 7-0 start in the regular season.
Through eight weeks, it seems the only thing holding the undefeated Chiefs back is its offense, which has gotten off to a relatively slow start to its 2024 campaign.
Despite the unit’s deficiencies, the experts at Pro Football Focus seem pleased with what they’ve seen from Andy Reid’s offensive lineman in Kansas City’s first seven games.
This week, PFF named three Chiefs linemen — Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, and Trey Smith — to its ‘Midseason All-Pro’ team:
Though this achievement isn’t necessarily an indication that these players will be contenders for the Associated Press All-Pro team at the end of the season, it is certainly a breath of fresh air amid the Chiefs’ offensive struggles.
Stay tuned to see if Thuney, Humphrey, and Smith can keep up their outstanding efforts to earn official All-Pro honors in January.
Kansas City #Chiefs interior offensive linemen receive high ratings in ‘Madden NFL 25’ | @EdEastonJr
The accolades for the Kansas City Chiefs are rolling in from their 2023 Super Bowl-winning season. The upcoming release of Madden NFL 25 will feature high grades for the team’s interior offensive line.
Joe Thuney (91), Creed Humphrey (92), and Trey Smith (90) are the offensive line starters who each receive 90 or better overall ratings. The two guards and center were rewarded for exceptional play last season, while the tackles didn’t make the 90-plus ranking for this season.
Thuney and Humphrey were both voted Pro Bowlers last season, with the veteran left guard earning an All-Pro selection. Smith has yet to make a Pro Bowl but has earned a reputation as one of the better guards in the league, and his new rating further supports that assessment.
Another notable Chiefs star’s rating that was recently revealed is All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, with a 97. In the upcoming game, he will enter the new season as the highest-rated defensive tackle. ‘Madden NFL 25’ will be released on August 16th and is available for pre-order now.
Here’s where Kansas City #Chiefs OL Joe Thuney ranks outside the ‘NFL Top 100’ list | @EdEastonJr
The annual NFL Top 100 list, voted by the players, is a ranking everyone looks forward to and sets the bar for the upcoming season. The Kansas City Chiefs have regularly featured multiple players on the list in previous years.
Chiefs starting offensive guard Joe Thuney was mentioned in this year’s program but only for missing out on making the list. The multiple-time Super Bowl champion ranked 101st, sitting just outside the top 100 list. In his recorded testimonial, Atlanta Falcons offensive guard Chris Lindstrom spoke highly of the Chiefs All-Pro.
“He’s phenomenal (and) a really good technician, so he drops back the way he does.” said Lindstrom. “and I just love and respect the way he plays.”
The players who just missed this year's #NFLTop100 list: 👇
110. Cam Jordan 109. C.J. Mosley 108. Bijan Robinson 107. Joe Flacco 106. T.J. Hockenson 105. Grady Jarrett 104. Matt Milano 103. Aaron Jones 102. Baker Mayfield 101. Joe Thuney pic.twitter.com/JriWXCOczG
Thuney’s late-season injury last year may have affected his ranking, as he was forced to miss the rest of the Super Bowl run. The pectoral injury is healed as he was cleared to return to practice a few days ago at training camp.
Thuney just missing out on the top 100 is disappointing, but it’s interesting that he only lost out by one spot. The decision could be used as fuel for the veteran offensive lineman heading into the 2024 season.
The #Chiefs will have to negotiate these four key situations during the 2024 offseason.
The Kansas City Chiefs are back-to-back Super Bowl champions for the first time in franchise history, and the first team since the 2003-04 New England Patriots to hoist Lombardi Trophies in consecutive seasons.
It is now time for the Chiefs to focus on free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft. Two of Kansas City’s top contributors, Chris Jones and L’Jarius Sneed, are set to hit the open market, and with just over $27 million in cap space available, it may prove to be difficult for the Chiefs to retain both of them.
Kansas City is in the midst of a dynasty, and the Chiefs haven’t been afraid to sacrifice key pieces to keep their championship window open.
With that in mind, take a look at the most important situations the Chiefs will have to address this offseason:
Kansas City #Chiefs offensive lineman Nick Allegretti told Jim Rome that he played through a torn UCL in Super Bowl LVIII.
The Kansas City Chiefs relied on their depth throughout the strenuous 2023 season. Injuries to starters threatened the team’s chances of another championship, but invaluable performances from backups like offensive lineman Nick Allegretti have kept them on top of the NFL.
The absence of All-Pro guard Joe Thuney was a concern heading into the matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, but Allegretti filled in successfully. He recently appeared as a guest on the Jim Rome Show to reveal a significant injury he dealt with in the Super Bowl LVIII victory.
“I haven’t suffered an injury like that until then, I immediately knew,” Allegretti explained. “It was something that you heard a pop, you felt it, and knowing minimal about anatomy, knew that something was wrong in my elbow because my elbow is not supposed to bend that way.
“Fortunately, we had the two-minute warning, and I had a couple (of) seconds to gather myself, figure out that my arm (was) still bent, and I was able to go. It was a tough situation, but fortunate enough, I was able to still play.”
Allegretti managed to still play effectively despite the injury to his UCL, not allowing a sack in the overtime period as Patrick Mahomes led the game-winning drive.
“I was probably playing at about a five,” Allegretti said, rating his pain from 1 to 10. “It was one of those things that I could confidently use the arm, knowing that, most likely, the UCL was already gone, so I wasn’t going to tear it any worse. So, if I could deal with the pain, I could play. So it was one of those things.”
The veteran offensive lineman was clutch and showed tremendous grit to finish the game. His performance in relief is a reminder of how much the team played for one another this season.
Kansas City will be down a First-Team All-Pro and a standout from last year’s Super Bowl win.
The Kansas City Chiefs are relatively healthy as they seek to become the first team to capture back-to-back world championships since the 2003-04 New England Patriots in Super Bowl 58 against the San Francisco 49ers, but they will be down a couple of impactful players.
First-Team All-Pro starting right guard Joe Thuney, who suffered a pectoral injury in the divisional round win over the Buffalo Bills, missed the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens. There was hope he’d return for the Super Bowl, but that optimism ended on Saturday.
Thuney was placed on the injured reserve as running back Jerick McKinnon was activated in his place. With Thuney out, experienced backup Nick Allegretti will make another start, the 18th of his career.
However, Thuney isn’t the only player who is set to miss the game.
Receiver Kadarius Toney — who hasn’t played since a Week 15 win over New England and has been inactive in every postseason game so far — will not play Sunday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney, who scored a touchdown during Kansas City’s Super Bow win over Philadelphia one year ago, is not expected to play today for Super Bowl LVIII, per league source. Toney was off the final Super Bowl LVIII injury report.https://t.co/rc099JWYD0
Toney drew some attention following the AFC championship when he seemingly suggested during an Instagram livestream that he was not injured as the Chiefs had indicated on their weekly reports.
He was not listed on the injury report during the lead-up to the Super Bowl. Coach Andy Reid said he had been practicing, but his status remained up in the air.
Toney was a standout in last year’s Super Bowl win over the Eagles, catching a touchdown pass. However, he has struggled to stay on the field this season, both due to injuries and mistakes. He appeared in 13 games with two starts but made just 27 catches for 169 yards and a touchdown.
ACC alumni take stage at Super Bowl 2024, highlighting the conference’s deep impact on the NFL.
As Super Bowl LVIII draws near, the spotlight intensifies not only on the competing teams and their marquee players but also on the paths that forged these athletes into today’s pros of the gridiron.
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) stands out with a notable presence; Georgia Tech, Miami, and Clemson each boast a pair of alumni, asserting the conference’s influence. Meanwhile, Duke, NC State, and Virginia Tech contribute one player apiece, bringing the ACC’s total representation to an impressive nine active players for the big game.
Leading the charge from the ACC is Joe Thuney, an NC State graduate, who anchors the offensive line for the Kansas City Chiefs with exceptional skill and consistency.
Deon Bush, a former Miami Hurricane whose college career was marked by consistent recognition, including multiple All-ACC honors. Both Thuney and Bush won a Super Bowl in 2022 with the Chiefs.
Joining Bush from the Chiefs is Jon Feliciano, another Miami product, whose massive presence on the offensive line was heralded during his time in the ACC.
The kicking game often flies under the radar but holds immense importance, as demonstrated by Harrison Butker, a Georgia Tech alumnus. Butker’s record-breaking career with the Yellow Jackets set the stage for his ascendancy in the NFL. Butker’s leg could very well be the deciding factor.
Not to be overshadowed, the San Francisco 49ers boast their own ACC talent with runningback Jordan Mason, a force to be reckoned with from Georgia Tech.
Chamarri Conner, hailing from Virginia Tech, brings tenacity and sharp defensive instincts to the Chiefs’ backfield. Noah Gray, a former Duke Blue Devil, adds depth and versatility to the 49ers’ offense. Gray is remembered by Duke fans for his reliable hands.
Justyn Ross and Ray-Ray McCloud III are both former Clemson standouts at wide receiver and are also both members of the 49ers.
The ACC’s influence on the grandest stage of American football continues to expand annually, showcasing the depth and talent within the conference. This year, however, it’s the SEC that dominates the roster representation with an impressive twenty-three players, claiming the top spot among conferences at the Super Bowl.
Kansas City Chiefs:
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Deon Bush, DB – Miami
Harrison Butker, K – Georgia Tech
Chamarri Conner, DB – Virginia Tech
Noah Gray, TE – Duke
Derrick Nnadi, DT – Florida State (Injured Reserve)
Justyn Ross, WR – Clemson
Joe Thuney, G – NC State
Cornell Powell, WR – Clemson (Practice Squad)
San Francisco 49ers:
Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Jon Feliciano, OL – Miami
Clelin Ferrell, DL – Clemson (Out)
Jordan Mason, RB – Georgia Tech
Ray-Ray McCloud III, WR – Clemson
T.Y. McGill, DL – NC State (Practice Squad)
Jackson and the Ravens offense imploded with three turnovers, and the team is 0-8 in team history when committing three or more turnovers in the postseason.
Jackson finished 20 of 37 for 272 yards, a touchdown, and an interception as Baltimore tied a season-low with 10 points.
The consensus favorite for NFL MVP, Jackson will have to wait another year to escape the notion that he’s unable to win games in the most crucial moments.
With a critical offseason and major decisions ahead, the Ravens cleaned out their lockers and had exit interviews with the coaching staff. Afterward, they met with the media, and here are the instant reactions.
