The Kansas City Chiefs officially welcomed starting LG Joe Thuney back to practice on Monday. It was a 10-10-10 practice and not a padded practice day, which allowed for the veteran to get in some work.
Thuney returned from the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list after suffering a pectoral injury during the playoffs last year. He missed the majority of the AFC Championship Game and also missed Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers, with former Chiefs OL Nick Allegretti filling in his place.
The All-Pro left guard saw some brief work during the install period during practice on Monday as the team works to ease him back into action following the injury.
Thuney's return is great news for his potential availability as we inch closer to the start of the 2024 NFL season. He's a vital piece to the success of the offensive line, allowing just four sacks and 64 total pressures over the past three seasons in Kansas City. Patrick Mahomes will certainly welcome his return as will his other veteran teammates along the offensive line.
Even the rookies should benefit from his return to the lineup, just seeing how he works and practices. One rookie, however, stands to benefit more than the rest from their return.
Why Chiefs rookie LT Kingsley Suamataia stands to benefit most from Joe Thuney's return
Having Thuney back in the lineup is going to be massively beneficial for rookie OT Kingsley Suamataia. The second-round draft pick has taken the vast majority (if not practically all) of the repetitions at the starting left tackle position through the padded days at training camp. He's mostly been aligned next to Mike Caliendo, who is a veteran without a whole lot of playing experience. That was demonstrated clearly when Caliendo went the wrong way on a run play during team drills.
Chiefs C Creed Humphrey had perhaps the best explanation of why Thuney's return to action is important.
“It’s great," Humphrey explained. "Getting to have him back doing some group install stuff, some indy (individual) stuff, it has been good. Obviously, he’s a big-time leader for us, he has a ton of experience and he’s a heck of a player so whenever you get a guy like that back, it’s great.”
That leadership and experience is important for a player like Suamataia, who is learning things on the fly and could wind up as the team's starting left tackle come Week 1. Having a stalwart presence like Thuney at the left guard spot should give Suamataia a little bit more confidence on certain plays.
Thuney isn't going to go the wrong way on a run play. In fact, he'll be able to help Suamataia get set and know his responsibilities on a given play. When a pass rusher attacks that inside shoulder or when he's going for a double-team block, he should feel better knowing that the guy next to him is an All-Pro. It allows a little more room for error than it would if he were lining up next to another rookie or someone else who also learning the ropes.
Related: Explaining Chiefs HC Andy Reid's signature 10-10-10 training camp practices
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