Chiefs' Joe Thuney Out for Super Bowl 58 vs. 49ers with Injury; McKinnon Questionable

Kansas City Chiefs guard Joe Thuney has been officially ruled out for Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers with a pectoral injury.

However, there's hope the Chiefs can return running back Jerick McKinnon, who is listed as questionable with a groin injury.

Thuney, a three-time Super Bowl champion who made the 2023 NFL All-Pro First Team, suffered the injury during his team's 27-24 win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round. He then missed Kansas City's 17-10 victory against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game.

McKinnon has been out since suffering the groin ailment during his team's 27-17 win over the New England Patriots on Dec. 17.

Without Thuney, the Chiefs turned to Nick Allegretti to start against the Ravens. He'll be in line to do so once again versus San Francisco. The five-year veteran has spent his entire career with the Chiefs, largely as a backup.

Allegretti had a tough assignment against the Ravens;' No. 1 scoring defense, specifically a ferocious defensive line led by Justin Madubuike. But he helped hold his own against that unit. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was notably sacked just twice on 41 dropbacks.

This isn't the first time Allegretti is making a Super Bowl start, so he has Big Game experience. Allegretti started for the entire 2020 postseason, capped by the team's 31-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Super Bowl.

The loss of Thuney certainly hurts, but Allegretti has proven to be a very capable fill-in.

The Chiefs are already using Isiah Pacheco as a bellcow running back, so there isn't much opportunity behind him at the position right now. Backup Clyde Edwards-Helaire has notably touched the ball just 14 times in three playoff games behind Pacheco, who has amassed 69 touches during that span.

But it's possible that McKinnon could get a little work in the passing game. McKinnon actually had more catches (25) than rushes (21) this past season. He turned his receptions into 192 yards and four scores. McKinnon averaged nearly three targets per game, so he'd be a welcome weapon for the team if he's good to go.

Kansas City hasn't been afraid to use McKinnon often in the past. He notably got scorching-hot over a five-week period near the end of the 2022 season, accounting for eight touchdowns and 410 yards.

McKinnon has been a limited practice participant all week. We'll find out soon enough if he's good to go with the Super Bowl set for Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET in Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium.