KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Five Chiefs starters were on the sidelines Wednesday as the team prepares to visit the Baltimore Ravens in Sunday’s AFC Championship game. Still, none appeared more significant than the strained right pectoral muscle of left guard Joe Thuney.
Thuney reportedly did not sustain a tear of the pectoral muscle but his status for Sunday remains in doubt. If Thuney cannot play, fifth-year veteran Nick Allegretti will start in his place. Allegretti has played 74 regular-season games with 13 starts for the Chiefs, and head coach Andy Reid says the club has confidence in the 27-year-old lineman if Thuey cannot play.
“Allegretti is a guy that started for us a number of games and all the guys look at him like he’s a starter, so everybody’s got confidence that he can come in and do a nice job,” Reid said. “Tough kid, Not everything’s the prettiest thing that you’ve seen but he’s gonna fight you right to the end and he’s smart. A good combination.”
Running back Isiah Pacheco also did not practice Wednesday due to a toe injury that Reid said is improving. Pacheco rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown in the team’s 27-24 win over the Buffalo Bills Sunday, averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Pacheco said he “absolutely” will play Sunday against the Ravens.
“Working with the training room just doing a great job in there,” Pacheco said. “Just blessed to be a part of it and just continue to get better every day.”
Also not practicing Wednesday were right guard Trey Smith (illness), defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (tricep) and safety Mike Edwards (concussion). Nnadi is the only player certain to miss Sunday’s AFC Championship game. Reid said Edwards remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol after taking a hit early in Sunday’s game at Buffalo. His status for this weekend remains unclear.
Linebacker Willie Gay did not appear on the practice field during the brief stretch period open to the media but was listed by the club as a limited participant on the injury report. Gay was a late addition to the team’s injury report Saturday with a neck injury. He played just 11 snaps against the Bills before exiting the game. ESPN reported Wednesday that X-rays did not show any major damage and that he is trending in the right direction.
Wide receiver Skyy Moore, who remains on injured reserve, also did not practice Wednesday. He tweaked his knee in practice Thursday. This marks the final week of his practice window after his designation to return from injured reserve. If the Chiefs move on the the Super Bowl, the club has until next Wednesday to decide to add Moore to the 53-player roster or leave him on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.
Chiefs Injury Report
Did not participate: RB Isiah Pacheco (toe/ankle), LG Joe Thuney (pectoral), RG Trey Smith (illness), DT Derrick Nnadi (tricep), S Mike Edwards (concussion) and WR Skyy Moore (knee/injured reserve)
Limited participation: CB L’Jarius Sneed (quad), LB Willie Gay (neck) and QB Blaine Gabbert (oblique)
Full participation: CB Trent McDuffie (ankle), DE Charles Omenihu (wrist), WR Rashee Rice (hamstring), WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (oblique), WR Kadarius Toney (hip), CB Joshua Williams (knee) and OT Wanya Morris (concussion) and OT Prince Tega Wanogho (quad/injured reserve)
Ravens Injury Report
Did not participate: RG Kevin Zeitler (not injury related/rest) and WR Tylan Wallace (knee)
Limited participation: CB Marlon Humphrey (calf), CB Rock Ya-SIn (knee) and LB Dei’Shawn Phillips (shoulder)
Full participation: TE Mark Andrews (ankle/injured reserve)
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story indicated Willie Gay did not participate in practice because he was not on the field during the portion of practice open to the media. The club after practice listed him as a limited participant.
