We reported earlier that Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes will have one more weapon – running back Jerick McKinnon is available, if the team deems him able to go for Super Bowl LVIII – on Sunday.
But Mahomes has one less protector.
Kansas City offensive lineman Joe Thuney, the Chiefs’ left guard, won’t play in the game, ESPN reports (Chiefs LG Joe Thuney out for Super Bowl LVIII with pec injury – ESPN). Thuney has been dealing with a pectoral injury (a chest muscle); he was hurt during the Chiefs’ divisional-round win over Buffalo and missed the AFC Championship Game against Baltimore.
Chiefs fans are likely having flashbacks to Super Bowl LIV, when the team’s offensive line looked like a turnstile for Tampa Bay’s defensive front, and the Buccaneers won the game in a rout, 31-9.
At any rate, Nick Allegretti – who started that Super Bowl for the Chiefs – will take Thuney’s place in the line-up at left guard against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
ESPN reported that on the other side, San Francisco has no one on its regular 53-man roster with an injury listing. That’s curious, given that defensive tackle Arik Armstead and tight end George Kittle were both limited Wednesday and Thursday in practice: Kittle with a toe and Armstead with a knee and foot. But both practiced Friday, and again, don’t have injury designations.
