The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Thursday that offensive tackle Josh Simmons has been placed on injured reserve due to a bulging disc in his back, ending his season after a contentious team meeting earlier in the week.
Two key developments emerged from the incident: Simmons was dismissed from an offensive meeting by Patrick Mahomes after a dispute with head coach Andy Reid, and the team confirmed his injury status following the altercation. Simmons has not played in either of his first two NFL seasons, appearing in just eight of 24 games since being drafted in 2025.
Immediate Aftermath and Team Response
Simmons’ absence from the Chiefs’ Week 5 game against the Seattle Seahawks was initially listed under "personal reasons" on the team’s injury report. However, reports from NFL Network and ESPN later revealed the underlying cause of his non-participation: a heated exchange with Reid during a team meeting.
According to sources cited by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, Simmons was seated with his feet propped up on a desk when Reid instructed him to remove them. Simmons reportedly responded that he needed to keep his feet elevated due to back and hip pain. Reid directed him to seek treatment from the team’s athletic trainers, but the discussion escalated, disrupting the meeting.
Mahomes intervened, echoing Reid’s stance and telling Simmons to leave the room and seek medical attention. Simmons complied but remained on-site. Later that day, he issued a formal apology to Reid and team leadership for his conduct.
Official Injury Status and Roster Impact
The Chiefs officially placed Simmons on injured reserve on Thursday, retroactive to the start of the week. His return timeline is set for Week 11 at the earliest, meaning he will miss at least four games, including matchups against the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Atlanta Falcons.
In Simmons’ absence, undrafted free agent Kahlil Benson has assumed the starting left tackle role. Benson’s performance has been described as "brilliant" by sources cited in Newsweek, though no further details on his play were provided in the reports.
Career Trajectory and Unanswered Questions
Simmons, a 2025 first-round pick out of Ohio State, has struggled to stay on the field since joining the Chiefs. His rookie season was marred by undisclosed personal issues, and his second year has been defined by limited participation and now a season-ending injury. The team had previously listed his status as a non-participant under "back/non-injury personal reasons," though the bulging disc diagnosis supersedes that classification.
The Chiefs have not publicly addressed whether Simmons’ conduct or the injury contributed to the decision to place him on injured reserve. The team’s statement did not specify a timeline for re-evaluation beyond the Week 11 return window.
Broader Implications for the Chiefs
With Simmons sidelined, the Chiefs’ offensive line rotation faces further disruption. The team’s reliance on Benson, an undrafted rookie, underscores the challenges of maintaining depth in the trenches. The Chiefs’ Week 5 loss to the Seahawks preceded Simmons’ placement on IR, raising questions about the timing of the injury disclosure and its potential impact on team strategy.
No further updates on Simmons’ condition or the Chiefs’ plans for his return have been released as of publication.