The Kansas City Chiefs‘ offensive line has been one of the few bright spots in a frustrating season. But that stability is taking another hit now. Rookie left tackle Josh Simmons has once again been ruled out for week 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Simmons was listed as a non-participant in the entire week for “not injury related-personal” reasons. And now with him sidelined, if Simmons’ absence extends further, the Chiefs may consider a harsh decision on him.

General manager Brett Veach might consider placing Simmons on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list. Head coach Andy Reid also said that the situation is being handled internally. Reid also refrained from giving an update while stressing that Veach is handling everything. “As far as Josh Simmons’ situation goes, I’m not going to comment on it today,” Reid told reporters. “[General manager Brett] Veach is handling everything there. And we’ll leave it at that.”

The star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, also weighed in while keeping things brief. “I’ll keep conversations kind of between us,” Mahomes said while protecting Simmons’ privacy. “But I’m always praying for him. I’m praying for all my teammates, so I’m always praying for him. I’ll just keep everything else kind of private to us.”

While Mahomes and Reid keep the details under wraps, the uncertainty around Simmons’ absence remains. But there are certain options that the Chiefs are likely to explore.

If Simmons is placed on the NFI list, he is expected to be out for at least four games. But this can open up the roster for tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick. Jaylon Moore, who stepped in as the starting left tackle in Simmons’ absence, is also a good option to continue to go with for the coming weeks.

Will Jaylon Moore replace Josh Simmons for good?

Andy Reid gave credit where it was due, praising offensive line coach Andy Heck for keeping every tackle ready to go at a moment’s notice. That level of preparation has kept the Chiefs steady through adversity. It also shows they learned from last season’s Super Bowl loss, where poor line play and depth hurt them. That trust was clear when Jaylon Moore stepped in for Simmons.

The 6-foot-4 lineman handled Patrick Mahomes’ blind side with poise, allowing just three pressures and one sack over 40 pass-block snaps. Reid backed him publicly, saying, “He’s a competitive kid, he’s always ready. He practices a third of the practice because Andy (Heck) rotates him in there. We have a lot of trust in him… The guys around him have a lot of trust in him.”

This trust is echoed across the locker room, including Patrick Mahomes. “I know the work that Jaylon has put in… He’s done his job and done it well. Having the reps in training camp and OTAs, I know he’s going to go out there and battle. He’s a starting tackle in this league,” Mahomes said. The Chiefs quarterback spoke highly of Moore’s readiness and ethic. He also showed how much belief the team has in their backup tackle.

It’s a strong praise from Mahomes, who knows well what it’s like to play behind a struggling offensive line. His words reinforce the sense that Moore has earned the team’s trust.