BREAKING: Andy Reid Explains Decision to Start Joe Thuney, Mike Caliendo Over D.J. Humphries vs. Texans

Sep 15, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs guard Joe Thuney (62) takes the field prior to a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
After a week of uncertainty about who would start on the left side of the Chiefs’ offensive line, Joe Thuney and Mike Caliendo got the job against the Texans. After the game, Andy Reid explained why.

After a long season of uncertainty at left tackle, the Kansas City Chiefs had a decision to make in the divisional round against the Houston Texans.

Left guard Joe Thuney provided stable play at left tackle when moved outside throughout the final meaningful games of the Chiefs’ regular season, forcing backup guard Mike Caliendo into the starting lineup to take Thuney’s usual spot. Veteran tackle D.J. Humphries joined the team late in the year but only appeared in two games, including his reps alongside the Chiefs’ backups in Week 18.

When the playoffs finally arrived, head coach Andy Reid chose to start Thuney at left tackle and Caliendo at left guard, leaving Humphries on the bench. After the victory that sent Kansas City to its seventh-consecutive AFC championship game, Reid was asked why he chose to go with the Thuney and Caliendo duo against Houston.

“Just with the complexity of the playoffs with different looks and the defenses, I think Joe and Caliendo have been here,” Reid said. “That’s not taking anything away from D.J., because he’s done a great job of working himself in. We literally rotate them at practice, so I think everybody’s got confidence in him. It’s just the part that you’ve got to start somebody. You can only have five of them, right?”

While the Chiefs’ best-case scenario was to leave Thuney at his Hall of Fame-caliber position while getting solid tackle play from Humphries, Reid’s logic on Saturday holds water. If Humphries hadn’t suffered a hamstring injury in his Chiefs debut that sidelined him for nearly a month, perhaps his familiarity with the offense would have progressed far enough to earn the start in the playoffs. Now, it’s hard to imagine the Chiefs voluntarily making another change on the offensive line ahead of the AFC championship game or a potential Super Bowl.

To Reid’s final point, the Chiefs do seem to have two competent options at tackle with Thuney and Humphries. If Thuney or Caliendo suffer an injury during the postseason, the Chiefs would have reason to trust Humphries over essentially-redshirting rookie Kingsley Suamataia or second-year tackle Wanya Morris, who was a surprise inactive for Saturday’s game.

Read More: Winners and Losers from the KC Chiefs’ Divisional Round Victory Over the Texans

Related Posts

Patrick Mahomes responds to critics who think the Chiefs are cooked

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs lost Super Bowl 59 and failed to pull off the coveted three-peat.

New Chiefs Addition Already Looks Overpaid Before Playing a Snap

The Kansas City Chiefs made sure to upgrade the roster over the last few months after failing to secure their third straight Super Bowl. The biggest area of foc

BREAKING: Why Patrick Mahomes Says He Doesn’t ‘Do Fireworks in July’

atrick Mahomes is in full revenge mode. After a humbling Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is treating this offseason with a level of intensity that rivals midseason form. While others were lighting fireworks on July 4th, Mahomes was focused on one thing—getting back to the top. But his focus and hard work didn’t stop him and Brittany Mahomes from enjoying a the holiday completely.

BREAKING: Kansas City Chiefs Owner Clark Hunt’s Family Lose 9-Year-Old Girl in Floods at Texas Summer Camp

Clark HuntKevin C. Cox/Getty Images

(EXCLUSIVE) A ѕource revealѕ how tіme away from tourіng and football haѕ changed Taylor Swіft and Travіѕ Kelce’ѕ relatіonѕhір—“It’ѕ been a turnіng рoіnt іn ѕo many wayѕ.” The couрle are reрortedly haрріer than ever… But іt’ѕ theіr ѕhockіng future рlanѕ that have fanѕ buzzіng: “They decіded іt waѕ tіme to do thіѕ.” What are they рlannіng next???

In the whirlwind world of music tours and championship football games, finding balance isn’t easy—especially when you’re two of the biggest stars in your

Taylor Swіft getѕ honeѕt about her рlanѕ to marry Travіѕ Kelce—“You don’t feel іn love every day.” In a rare moment of vulnerabіlіty, ѕhe oрenѕ uр about the challengeѕ, fearѕ of beіng young, and why іt’ѕ about fіghtіng for love, not chaѕіng рerfectіon. What ѕhe revealѕ may be her moѕt honeѕt confeѕѕіon yet…

Taylor Swift, known for her vulnerable songwriting and iconic love ballads, has always kept fans guessing about her personal life. But in a rare moment of