Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid had a promising update for fans ahead of their matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. Everyone gets to make the trip, save for (surprise, surprise) left tackle Josh Simmons.
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“The only injury is Josh Simmons and then, look forward to the challenge of playing the Raiders. Good football team,” Reid said in his latest media availability. “Two 3-0 teams playing, and in Las Vegas. So getting better than that and great opportunity. We had a good week of practice and look forward to, again, that challenge.”
Simmons’ back issue seems more complicated than what was believed initially. Reid revealed that the OT is recovering from a bulging disk, a result of his August 17 injury, which is affecting the strength in his legs. The Chiefs were hoping that the issue would resolve quickly and decided not to put him on Injured Reserve. But four weeks in, the Chiefs could have perhaps put him on the list and free up a roster spot.
“We all know backs can be a little tricky. You never know [the return timeline] with these things. The exams that he’s had [have shown] he’s making progress, which is the biggest positive of everything,” the Chiefs head coach said on Wednesday. “I think we’re heading in the right direction here. Knock on wood, we’re going to be in a good place here with [more] time.”
The silver lining is that the Chiefs believe Simmons will not require surgery to resolve the injury.
There was some serious hope in Simmons doing better this season as the starting left tackle, after missing a lot of time in his rookie season. He was away due to a personal issue, came back, and then suffered a season-ending injury to his wrist. Altogether, Simmons played just eight regular-season games in 2025.
This led many to question the Chiefs’ decision to use their first-round pick to draft him in 2025. There was already some doubt surrounding his health, as he had suffered an injury to his patellar tendon in 2024. However, what impressed the Chiefs was what he could do once he was on the field.
Simmons allowed zero sacks during his 2024 season before he went down with the injury. He also received 2024 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Conference honors, despite appearing in just six games.
Simmons also had fans hoping for better results, as he allowed only two sacks in the eight games he played as a rookie. But with his delayed absence, the Chiefs can only sit back and await his return.
The Chiefs have instead pivoted to Kahlil Benson
In Simmons’ absence, the Chiefs have started with undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson in the last three games. Although he struggled during the season opener, Benson quickly found his groove and went on to win NFL Rookie of the Month honors after helping the Chiefs snag three straight wins.
On the field, Benson allowed just six pressures across three games, keeping up with Simmons’ 6.6% pressure rate on the field last season. While this is good news for the Chiefs, it might not be as great for Simmons.
Benson hasn’t shown anything to have the Chiefs disappointed. He’s playing at a pretty high clip, which means Simmons will have to battle him for the starting job once he becomes healthy.
Considering the team decided not to put him on IR, there is still a good chance Simmons will retain his starting position after returning. However, the injury-riddled seasons marking the end of his collegiate career and the beginning of his league journey have created doubt regarding his consistency.