Simmons holds one of the most important jobs in football.He is paid to protect the blindside of Patrick Mahomes, the central figure of the NFL’s defining dynasty and one of the most valuable assets in American sports.Yet Simmons has played in just eight of 20 games since the Chiefs drafted him two seasons ago.Khali Benson, an undrafted rookie right tackle who played exclusively on the right side in college, has filled in for Simmons this season.
The Chiefs are 3-0, but Benson showed clear limitations on Sunday against the Dolphins.The team’s own highlights package of the victory is marred by defenders beating him almost immediately off the line of scrimmage.The Chiefs offense misses Simmons' stability.
And yet, there is still no information regarding when he might return, or whether he will return at all this season.How does that happen in a league where highly paid insiders compete to deliver minute-by-minute injury updates on even the most obscure players in the NFL?To understand how, we have to return to the 2025 pre-draft process.Offensive tackle Josh Simmons #71 of the Kansas City Chiefs stands on the team sideline during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Arrowhead Stadium on Aug.15, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo.
(Getty Images)CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGEIn October 2024, Simmons suffered a season-ending patellar tendon injury at Ohio State.After the season, reports indicated that he was well ahead of schedule in his recovery.
The Chiefs selected him 32nd overall.A week after the draft, Simmons was active for rookie minicamp.According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the national reporter most connected to the Chiefs, the injury did not cause Simmons to fall to the final pick of the first round.
The concern was something less clinical and more ominous: his character."Several teams agree: Josh Simmons had best tape of any OT last year.And they aren't very concerned with recovery on the torn patella tendon.
More of the concern is ma...