Mystery Surrounds Kansas City Chiefs' Left Tackle Josh Simmons' Absence
The team's continued lack of transparency regarding Josh Simmons' back injury fuels speculation about the player's availability and future with the club.
Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons has missed the team's first three games of the season with a back injury, an absence that has been met with a notable lack of clarity from the organization. Head coach Andy Reid has provided vague updates on Simmons' potential return, adding to the mystery surrounding the player who protects quarterback Patrick Mahomes' blindside.
Simmons has played in only eight of the 20 games since the Chiefs drafted him 32nd overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Undrafted rookie Khali Benson has filled in at left tackle this season, and while the Chiefs are 3-0, Benson has shown limitations. The team's offense misses Simmons' stability.
Reports from the 2025 pre-draft process indicated that Simmons had a season-ending patellar tendon injury at Ohio State, but was ahead of schedule in his recovery. However, ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler noted that concerns about Simmons' maturity and character, rather than his recovery, were a factor in teams passing on him. Despite these concerns, Simmons was active for rookie minicamp shortly after the draft.
Last season, Simmons played well for the first month before being listed as questionable with an "illness" two hours before a game on Oct. 6, 2025. Days later, he did not show up for pregame responsibilities against the Detroit Lions, with players and staff reportedly unsure of his whereabouts. The team described his subsequent four-game absence as a personal/family issue.
In late 2025, Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame reported that Simmons left the team without approval the Saturday before the Lions game, and that the team did not know his location for a period. OutKick has heard similar information but has been unable to independently verify it, and neither Simmons' agent nor the Chiefs general manager responded to requests for comment.
This season, Simmons missed his first practice on Aug. 18 with a back injury. Verderame initially reported that Simmons was "fine" and that there was no concern about the injury. However, Simmons has not practiced since and remains sidelined.
Reid's comments on Simmons' status contrast with his updates on other injured players, such as safety Chamarris Connor, who also missed the first three games. Reid provided a more optimistic outlook for Connor's return. National reporters like Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport typically provide detailed updates on even minor injuries, but have offered little on Simmons' situation. Yahoo NFL analyst Hayden Winks and Chiefs film analyst Price Carter have both pointed to the unusual nature of Simmons' absence and the lack of a clear timeline for his return.
The Chiefs' decision to keep Simmons on the active roster while he is unavailable, without providing further explanation, has led to speculation that his absence might be related to pre-draft character concerns or his previous unexplained absence from the team. The team has chosen ambiguity, leaving fans and media to fill in the blanks, with some questioning whether Simmons desires to play or loves the game. The Chiefs now face a decision on whether to provide an explanation or make a roster move that acknowledges the uncertain path forward for their left tackle.