Josh Simmons’ return doesn’t mean the Chiefs are ready to use him

It feels crazy to say, but Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos might be the biggest regular-season game of the Patrick Mahomes era. While the Kansas City Chiefs have certainly had big games over the last decade, few regular-season matchups have carried the same level of importance or playoff impact.

The biggest story for this game is the Chiefs’ high-powered offense, which ranks third in DVOA, going against the No. 2 DVOA defense of the Broncos. Their defense is on a historic sack pace, averaging 4.6 sacks per game through 10 games, putting them on track to finish the season with 78 sacks. This would break the current NFL record of 72 sacks set by the 1984 Chicago Bears.

The Chiefs are primed to get reinforcements along the offensive line, though, as rookie left tackle Josh Simmons has returned to the team. Simmons hasn’t played since October 6 against the Jaguars and has been away from the team since then. Andy Reid confirmed Simmons’ return but was noncommittal about his status for Sunday’s game:

"We know we've got a good player in there now [Jaylon Moore] and we know what Josh is capable of and all that. So, we'll just see where we're at when they get back."

Don't be surprised if Josh Simmons is watching from the sidelines while Jaylon Moore remains the left tackle in Week 1 for the Chiefs.

It has long been Andy Reid’s process that players coming off long-term injury or injured reserve spend their first week at practice but don’t play. They then practice the following week and are activated for the next game. Of course, we’ve not really seen a situation like Josh Simmons’ before.

Additionally, we don’t know any details of what Simmons' leave consisted of. Was he staying in football shape? Was his leave related to any health concern? There’s also a complicating factor in Simmons’ patellar injury in 2024. While he appears to have made a full recovery, taking a month off could increase the risk of reinjury.

After five weeks of starting, it’s pretty clear that Josh Simmons is the team’s best option at left tackle. Moore has played well, allowing 12 pressures in his four games, which is the same amount Simmons allowed in his five. What’s more alarming, though, is that Moore seems to be struggling more each week as teams get more film on him and as the level of competition has increased. That becomes even more concerning with the upcoming pass rush.

The Chiefs have also treated Simmons and Moore differently. Simmons was left on an island at one of the highest rates of any tackle in football. If Moore plays against the Broncos’ pass rush, the Chiefs need to have a sound plan to provide help on his side.

With the added context of Simmons reporting back to the team during the bye week, there are numerous unknown variables surrounding his availability. Is it a good idea to stick a rookie into a game against perhaps the best pass rush ever? After a month away from football? With his injury history?

Chances are high that Jaylon Moore will start again this week, with Simmons available off the bench—a key detail as Jawaan Taylor left the Bills game with an ankle injury. Whether it’s Jaylon Moore or Josh Simmons, the Chiefs’ game plan has to center around getting the ball out quickly, regardless.

No matter how important this game might seem, nothing is worth risking the long-term outlook on Josh Simmons. Solving left tackle at pick No. 32 has been a revelation for this franchise, and that matters far beyond 2025. Yes, it will be frustrating to see Nik Bonitto flying around the edge of Jaylon Moore with Josh Simmons on the sidelines, but the risks far outweigh the rewards in this instance.