The injuries are piling up along the offensive front for the Kansas City Chiefs. For a unit tasked with protecting Patrick Mahomes as he returns from torn knee ligaments, it's a concerning development to watch as the preseason unfolds.
The newest player to sit out of practice is left tackle Josh Simmons, who spent time on the rehab field for the Chiefs instead of participating in padded practice sessions. He joined fellow tackles Chu Godrick and Matt Waletzko, as well as right guard Trey Smith, as those sitting out in St. Joseph with two more practices scheduled overall.
The Chiefs later made it clear that it was a back issue for Simmons. This is a new concern for the left tackle, even going back to his days at Ohio State, and our friend, Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame, says he's expected to "be fine".
The Chiefs are now dealing with injuries to 40 percent of the offensive front with other questions looming in the distance.
The Chiefs selected Simmons in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at No. 32 overall with the hopes that he would slot in as their franchise left tackle for the next half-decade. Simmons' stock slid after he suffered a torn patellar tendon during his final season at OSU, but his skill set was too tempting for the Chiefs to pass up at the bottom of the first round.
Simmons' first season was an accurate encapsulation of his draft profile. When healthy and available, he looked the part of a long-term answer at left tackle with elite potential to protect Mahomes' blindside. But he was only on the field for eight games after being shelved for four games with a wrist injury and away for another four for personal reasons.
Here's the important guardrail for any concerns: the Chiefs' season doesn't begin for nearly a month. With the Chiefs hosting the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football to open the season, the truth is that Simmons and other ailing players have a few weeks to recover before missing any meaningful time. While it'd be nice to see Simmons available for all practice sessions, the Chiefs can roll out the caution tape around any preseason terrain knowing there's plenty of sand in the hourglass.
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