FOXBORO — It’s never been all that complicated for Patriots rookie left guard Joe Thuney.

Throw him a scrambled Rubik’s Cube as he’s walking off the practice field, and he says he’ll return a solved version momentarily.

“About a minute and a half,” Thuney said. “I think I can do a minute-10, a minute-20.”

Or when it took Thuney just three years to complete his major in accounting at North Carolina State, he racked his brain for new ways to bide his time. He liked Spanish, so why not earn a minor in that? And to add to his affinity for the business world, Thuney worked toward a new major in international studies, which he’ll complete with another nine credit hours at some point down the line.

Thuney has always challenged himself, and he has a history of mastering rare feats. That’s why his accomplishments during his short time in New England shouldn’t be all that alarming.

The third-round pick has been the team’s starting left guard since organized team activities in the spring, though his starting status seemed like it could be temporary while Shaq Mason, Josh Kline and Tre Jackson recovered from offseason surgeries. Thuney swatted aside that theory July 30 with a physically dominant practice during the Patriots’ first padded workout of camp.

Since then, there’s been no question that he is the best left guard on the roster.

“There are a lot of things I can’t control,” Thuney said. “The only thing I can try to do is have a good practice each day and not look too far ahead. I’m not thinking about starting and not starting. I’m just trying to think about how I can improve today. The coaches make the decisions, and I’m glad to have an opportunity out here.”

Thuney turned in a nearly flawless performance Thursday against the Saints, and he was solid again yesterday when the Patriots hosted the Bears in a fully padded joint practice. The 23-year-old pancaked defensive tackle Eddie Goldman in an 11-on-11 rep and stonewalled Mitch Unrein by the left sideline on a screen pass to James White.

Thuney plays with good athleticism and leverage, and he has displayed the capable strength to handle any bull-rushing veterans over the last two weeks of nearly live reps against opposing teams. Though the rookie has tried to compartmentalize each step in the process, he definitely can feel the improvements since May.

“I think you can go back and look at the film and see,” Thuney said. “I think I’m playing a little better now than three months ago. I think you can check the tapes, and you can see a difference.”

He has applied his book smarts to the Pats’ advanced playbook, and he wouldn’t have been entrusted with those quality reps if it were a detriment to the team. And again, Thuney has a history of finding success in life by outsmarting those around him.

Trace it back to the Rubik’s Cube. When his older brother, Eric, brought one home and figured it out about 10 years ago, Thuney quickly worked to one-up him and discovered the patterns within the block that is maddeningly confusing to oh so many.

“I think I can beat him,” Thuney smirked.

And while Thuney humbly downplays his ability to communicate in Spanish, a local reporter has raved about a pair of interviews with Thuney, whose Spanish never broke during the extended back-and-forths during training camp.

Thuney appears to be set for a long NFL career, but former Rutgers player Eric LeGrand reminded the Patriots and Saints last week the game can be taken from anyone in an instant. That’s why Thuney is proud of the path he has paved for his future, whenever life after football falls before him.

“I don’t really have a set answer of what life after football will be like, but I think they’re pretty cool degrees to work off of,” Thuney said. “So whatever happens, I think it’ll be good.

“Football doesn’t last forever. You never know when your last down or play is, so you’ve got to make each play count, give it your all each time. And I think I’ll be OK with what I’ve done academically. I’m not thinking about that right now, though.”

It might be an early camp overreaction, but Thuney has exceeded the expectations befitting of his draft status. He had the physical tools, and his mental aptitude has helped him translate the playbook that, quite frankly, is nothing like solving a Rubik’s Cube or learning a new language.

Then again, Thuney can simplify the fundamental core of conquering each challenge.

“Gradually break it down,” Thuney said, “and work from there.”

It’s nothing he hasn’t done before.