The Kansas City Chiefs have welcomed back guard Joe Thuney back from injury – much to the delight of Patrick Mahomes.
Thuney was activated from the Chiefs’ disabled list on Monday after undergoing a physical exam.
The four-time Super Bowl champion injured his pectoral in the AFC championship game against the Baltimore Ravens in January.
Thuney has been sidelined ever since and had to nervously watch his teammates from the stands at Super Bowl LVIII.
One of the NFL’s elite guards, the 31-year-old has been a key part of the Chiefs’ success over the past two seasons.
He will likely have to play a similar role as Kansas City aims for a historic three-peat in 2024.
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Star quarterback Mahomes went to the X on Monday to celebrate following the positive update on Thuney’s injury.
Tagging the Ohio native, the two-time NFL MVP posted a smiley face emoji as Thuney returned to the active roster.
“Guard Dawg is back!” responded one Chiefs fan to Mahomes’ post.
“3-peat coming for the GOAT,” said another.
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“Okaaayyy!! We’re ready for this season gentlemen!! Let’s gooooo!!!” added a third.
“Now you’re all in trouble,” a fourth commented.
Thuney has proven to be a colossus for the Chiefs since joining as a free agent in 2021.
He was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2016 in the third round.
Thuney played every offensive snap for the Patriots during his first three seasons in Boston.
The 304-pound star won two Super Bowl rings with the Patriots, helping protect NFL GOAT Tom Brady.
He signed a five-year, $80 million contract with the Chiefs in March 2021.
Diamonds are forever
Kansas City’s newest Super Bowl rings feature 529 diamonds, 38 rubies and a tribute to the winning game.
The Chiefs displayed their latest piece of jewelry in a special ceremony on Thursday, June 13.
The new bling features the years of Kansas City’s Super Bowl victories – 1969, 2019, 2022 and 2023.
He also has a handwritten drawing of the play ‘Tom and Jerry’ by Andy Reid, which won Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Kansas City beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime in February.
And the rings feature 22 diamonds to represent the points Kansas City scored in the second half and overtime.
Nineteen diamonds also represent his 11 consecutive winning seasons and eight consecutive AFC West titles.
Although there is also a commemorative patch for the late Norma Hunt, the matriarch of the Chiefs’ owning family who died last summer.
Since joining the organization, he has only allowed Mahomes to be sacked four times in three campaigns.
Fans were concerned after he was moved to the PUP list before training camp on July 17.
But Monday’s positive update appears to suggest he will be ready for the new season in September.
Since arriving in the NFL seven years ago, Thuney has racked up $67,991,395 in earnings per month. Spotrac.
His current contract runs through 2026, with $15.5 million in base salary coming next season.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story