KC Chiefs will get reinforcements back from injury soon

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 14: Guard Joe Thuney #62 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after defeating the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 14, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Chiefs defeated the Raiders 41-14. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 14: Guard Joe Thuney #62 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after defeating the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 14, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Chiefs defeated the Raiders 41-14. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images) /
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Joe Thuney #62 of the Kansas City Chiefs  (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Joe Thuney #62 of the Kansas City Chiefs  (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /

Joe Thuney

Praise be to the football gods that Joe Thuney is making a timely return from the ankle injury that kept him out of the Chiefs’ past two contests. Boy was he missed. Through all of the hoopla aroused by Orlando Brown Jr. in holding out this offseason—and the massively underwhelming performance he has followed that act with—Joe Thuney, the anchor of this offensive line has remained steadfast. The non-hyperbolic heroics of Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith as the other interior pieces of the line have done all they can to shape pockets in pass-pro for Mahomes, but Thuney’s absence has been felt more than anyone’s.

The veteran presence and the toughness he brings to this offense’s identity are so highly underrated. In my honest assessment, far too many folks harp on the price tag attached to his services when the league’s best quarterback is under center two paces to Thuney’s right. If Mahomes can make an MVP run with this cast around him, it doesn’t matter what the cost of the O-line is.

After trading away Bradley Chubb to recuperate some of the draft capital the Broncos sent to Seattle to acquire the worst quarterback in the NFL, the Denver defensive front became far less fearsome. Additionally, another complete waste of Walmart’s money, Randy Gregory, remains on the IR. The workload ahead of the O-line in the upcoming rendition of the most lopsided rivalry in sports should actually be pretty minimal, but given the ferocity of Denver’s secondary, Mahomes will need all the time he can get.