As the Kansas City Chiefs entered Week 15 of the regular season, they were at a crossroads with what to do at the left tackle position.
One thing was clear – rookie 2024 second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia, who began the year as the starter, wasn’t ready. Wanya Morris started 11 games during the middle of the season, but produced mixed results as he was battling through a knee injury.
The Chiefs then signed D.J. Humphries, who injured his hamstring during his first game with the team, costing him the next three weeks. Rather than going back to Morris, coach Andy Reid decide to move Joe Thuney from left guard to left tackle and start backup Mike Caliendo at left guard.
It was a bold move by Reid, but it was the right one. While he hasn’t been perfect, Thuney has performed the best out of all the guys that Kansas City has put at left tackle this season. Caliendo has had his struggles, but has been serviceable. The Chiefs’ offensive line has by far been at its best with those two in the lineup.
It really paid off during the Chiefs’ 32-29 victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game. Per Pro Football Focus, Thuney surrendered zero pressures on quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and his 89.3 pass-blocking grade was the highest among all offensive lineman during the Conference championship round.
Unsurprisingly, Chiefs All-Pro center Creed Humphrey also did not allow a pressure. In Thuney’s case, it’s a much more impressive accomplishment being that he is playing out of position, especially against a defense the caliber of Buffalo’s. The Chiefs will ask Thuney for one more big time performance as they play the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.
K.C.’s offensive line will face a very good Eagles front seven that features two All-Pros in linebacker Zack Baun and defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Philadelphia ranked 10th against the run and 15th in sacks during the regular season, which is solid, but not spectacular. It stands to reason that Thuney should be able to fare well against the Eagles after playing admirably against the Bills and Houston Texans the week previous.
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