Patrick Mahomes grins with delight as Kansas City Chiefs star who’s won four Super Bowls returns from injury layoff
THE Kansas City Chiefs have welcomed back guard Joe Thuney from injury - much to Patrick Mahomes' delight.
Thuney was activated off the Chiefs' physically unable to perform list on Monday after passing a physical.
The four-time Super Bowl champion injured his pectoral in the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens in January.
Thuney has been on the sidelines 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 last two seasons.
He will likely have to play a similar role as Kansas City target a historic threepeat in 2024.
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Quarterback star Mahomes took to X on Monday to celebrate after Thuney's positive injury update.
Tagging in the Ohio native, the two-time NFL MVP posted a grinning face emoji as Thuney returned to the active roster.
"Guard Dawg is back!" replied one Chiefs fan to Mahomes' post.
"3 peat coming for the GOAT," said another.
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"Okaaayyy!! We ready for this season gentlemen!! Let's Gooooo!!!" added a third.
"Now you're all in big, big trouble," commented a fourth.
Thuney has proved 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 in every Patriots offensive snap during his first three seasons in Boston.
The 304-pound star won two Super Bowl rings with the Patriots, helping to protect NFL GOAT Tom Brady.
He penned 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 nod to their game-winning play.
The Chiefs flashed their latest piece of jewelry at a special ceremony on Thursday, June 13.
The new bling features the years of Kansas City's Super Bowl wins - 1969, 2019, 2022 and 2023.
It also has a handwritten drawing of Andy Reid's 'Tom and Jerry' play 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 their 11 straight winning seasons and eight AFC West titles in a row.
While there is also commemorative patch for the late Norma Hunt, the matriarch of the family which owns the Chiefs who died last summer.
Since joining the organization, he has only allowed Mahomes to be sacked four times across three campaigns.
Fans were concerned after he was moved to the PUP list prior to training camp on July 17.
But Monday's positive update appears to suggest he will be ready for the new season in September.
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Since arriving in the NFL seven years ago, Thuney has amassed $67,991,395 in earnings, per Spotrac.
His current deal runs until 2026, with $15.5 million in basic salary heading his way next season.