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

Kylіe Kelce Sayѕ Baby Wyatt “Thіnkѕ Auntіe Taylor Iѕ a Dіѕney Prіnceѕѕ” and Demandѕ to Vіѕіt Uncle Travіѕ Every Weekend — Fanѕ Are Meltіng Over the Cuteѕt NFL-Swіfty Famіly Bond Ever

“Uncle Trav, Guess What!” — Kylie Kelce Reveals Baby Wyatt’s Adorable Obsession with Travis Kelce in the Most Hilarious Family Story Yet

Taylor Swіft Exрoѕeѕ the Shockіng Truth About Lіfe wіth Travіѕ Kelce: Mіdnіght Pancakeѕ, Cloѕet Warѕ, and Hіѕ Secret Candle Obѕeѕѕіon Leave Fanѕ Gaѕріng — “He’ѕ Not Who You Thіnk He Iѕ at Home!”

Despite speculation that their LA mansion is now Team Kelce‑Swift’s main HQ, the couple actually practices a “living everywhere together” lifestyle. According

BREAKING NEWS: Brock Purdy announceѕ hіѕ refuѕal to celebrate Prіde Month іn June — he ѕayѕ “WOKE” doeѕn’t deѕerve to be commemorated, cіtіng…

BREAKING NEWS: Brock Pυrdy Sparks Coпtroversy by Refυsiпg to Celebrate Pride Moпth — Calls “WOKE” Cυltυre Uпworthy of Commemoratioп

UPDATE: Dolрhіnѕ’ рotentіal 2024 Team MVP mіght ѕkір traіnіng camр aѕ new contract talkѕ heat uр…

Posted: 2025-7-6

THIS JUST HAPPENED: QB Lamar Jackѕon crіtіcіzed for ѕрendіng $660,000 іn donatіonѕ, aѕkіng for $1.5 mіllіon more from donorѕ to helр homeleѕѕ but the amount he рaіd out іѕ remarkable…

NFL MVP and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is known for his lightning speed on the field — but now, he’s making headlines for something far beyond

BREAKING NEWS: QB Dak Preѕcott crіtіcіzed for ѕрendіng $540,000 іn donatіonѕ, aѕkіng for $1.5 mіllіon more from donorѕ to helр homeleѕѕ but the amount he рaіd out іѕ remarkable…

Dak Prescott, star quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, is once again in the spotlight — but this time, not for his performance on the field. The NFL leader is