Heading into Week 7, it was reported that Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons was recently kicked out of a team meeting earlier in the week—the same week that the team placed him on injured reserve for a back injury. The report only adds more fuel to the negative fire that already surrounds the second-year offensive lineman.
The specific report stems from NFL Network reporters Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport, claiming that head coach Andy Reid took exception to the way Simmons was sitting feet-up in a meeting. An attempt to have him sit differently, with his feet down, was met with pushback, since Simmons explained his back pain forced him to sit that way.
Reid and then quarterback Patrick Mahomes ultimately encouraged Simmons to leave and seek treatment from Chiefs trainers if he was in pain, and the disagreement continued to the point where he was asked to leave the meeting. Garafolo and Rapoport also added that Simmons apologized for the incident. The full report is worth reading.
Unfortunately, Simmons was already the subject of ire for many in Chiefs Kingdom for his inability to take the field midway through his second season. The Chiefs' 2025 first-round pick has played in eight total games for the franchise, all in his rookie campaign, after missing time last season for personal reasons, a wrist fracture, and now a back injury that first surfaced in mid-August. Simmons has missed every game so far in 2026.
What should fans think of this latest chapter? The report seems strange because it is.
1. The Chiefs aren't so buttoned-up right now
The single most surprising angle with this latest Josh Simmons report is that it exists at all—at least in some mainstream NFL media way. Names were mentioned—big, big names—like Mahomes and Reid, and the report was channeled through very well-known reporters. This wasn't some intern making extra cash by spilling some juicy details to a gossip rag. The report reads legitimate from top to bottom for all of these reasons. That's a very rare occurrence out of Arrowhead.
Remember that Simmons disappeared for a full quarter-season just a year ago and, to this day, still no one knows why. This is the franchise that had everyone believing Reuben Bain Jr. or Jordyn Tyson was the draft selection, only to shock everyone with a cornerback selection of Mansoor Delane. Just three weeks ago, the Chiefs benched left guard Kingsley Suamataia for a Week 4 game and told everyone to mind their own business.
Essentially the lesson here is that nothing gets out unless the Chiefs want it out.
2. The report itself doesn't feel like a big deal
Over the years, people outside of Arrowhead have tried to make a big deal about some things that happen inside of it. Fans might recall when tight end Travis Kelce has been seen yelling at offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy or even head coach Andy Reid on the sidelines. Football is an emotional exercise. The competitive edge bleeds out onto each other at times. That's part of any team sport, even during the week.
The story, on its surface, is a minor concern. A coach called out a player. That player took exception to being called out. The player then apologized. That's a regular Wednesday in most organizations.
3. The Chiefs seem like they've gone public with their buy-in concerns
What makes this incident a "big deal", then, and why we're discussing this at length, is because it's been made known. There's no way of knowing this for sure, and conjecture feels irresponsible, but the public-facing nature of all of this feels so calculated and obvious. It pushes a narrative that, as a player, Simmons has been at odds with the rest of the organization's leaders.
The reunion with Eric Bieniemy was hailed as a return to organizational accountability for the Chiefs this spring. Four weeks into a new season, the Chiefs have benched Suamataia and now a report about Simmons' meeting-room posture has surfaced in Week 7. Is this a coincidence? Perhaps the Chiefs have turned to the media to help with some buy-in concerns.
4. Simmons faces a very real PR issue
That Simmons' stock with fans could sink any lower than it already has feels like a real achievement, but here we are. The sentiment outside of Arrowhead already felt like a significant portion of Chiefs Kingdom was ready to move on, even just 18 months after having drafted the Ohio State product. But now that a report of internal conflict has surfaced, coupled with the fact that he's now on injured reserve with a bulging disc in his back, feels like that anti-Simmons segment is only going to get larger.
It helps that Kahlil Benson has put up a very admirable effort as a replacement at left tackle, an undrafted rookie thrown into the fire of Week 1 from the outset. The Chiefs offense is rolling without Simmons. The Chiefs are 5-0 without Simmons. Benson has been there for every snap, without a word or an issue. Even with the talent differential, it feels like some fans would say, "I'll take that instead."
No one will question Josh Simmons' talent. The moment he steps onto the field for the Chiefs again, if that happens, it will represent a major upgrade for Patrick Mahomes' protection up front. He's supremely gifted, which is why the Chiefs selected him at No. 32 overall. But a single report of a contentious team meeting has added new layers to the entire saga, and the picture feels cloudier than ever.
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