Last week, Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons’ injury ruled him out for a second straight game, and it looks like he is expected to miss even more time. Patrick Mahomes has had 10 different starting left tackles since the 2022 season and a different left tackle in all 5 Super Bowls he has played. Despite the Chiefs’ strong 2-0 start, Simmons’ lack of availability is a major issue and could be a bad sign for the team’s long-term sustainability.
Finding a franchise left tackle was #1 on the Chiefs’ to-do list in the 2025 offseason, which is why they drafted Josh Simmons in the first round. 2026 was supposed to be the year he would solidify himself as the Chiefs franchise tackle. However, it is Week 3 and he hasn’t played a snap.
Josh Simmons only played 8 games for the Chiefs in his rookie season. He missed four games due to mysterious personal issues, then missed the rest of the season due to a wrist injury. Coming into the NFL, Simmons fell in the draft because of his torn patellar tendon he suffered in college. He has already missed the first two games of the year due to a back injury he suffered during training camp, and according to Andy Reid, he could miss 2 more. This means that Simmons may not take the field until the Chiefs’ Week 6 game against the LA Chargers.
In the 8 games he played in 2025, Simmons played very well, allowing only 2 sacks. His injury and availability history is concerning, but all of it seems to be unrelated from to each other. Even if these injuries are all flukes, it is possible his body is just more susceptible to injury than the average NFL player, which would make it nearly impossible for him to be the player the Chiefs want him to be.
Although the Josh Simmons injury is concerning, there is a shred of hope for the Chiefs at left tackle. Kahlil Benson entered the season as an undrafted free agent and had never started a game at left tackle in college, making him a questionable choice to fill in for Simmons. Those questions were quickly answered after the first two weeks of the season, where he has only allowed 6 pressures, 2 QB hits, and no sacks. For an undrafted free agent rookie, this is the best the Chiefs could ask for.
The rest of the Chiefs’ offensive line is also very strong right now. Creed Humphrey has been the best center in the NFL since Jason Kelce retired, Trey Smith and Kingsley Suamataia are more than reliable guards, and Jaylon Moore has looked like a serviceable right tackle through 2 weeks. The left tackle is widely considered the most important lineman due to it being on the QB’s blindside. A good left tackle is the difference between a touchdown and a strip sack. With Mahomes being slightly less mobile this season, protecting his blindside is a top priority.
Josh Simmons will return this season, and the Chiefs hope it’ll stay that way. If Simmons continues to get hurt, there will be conversations about the Chiefs’ future at left tackle. Luckily, Kahlil Benson looks like a possible answer if that happens.
Josh Simmons is supposed to be a major part in the Chiefs’ future, but his injury issues are becoming a question mark. If this back injury is just a fluke, then Simmons and Chiefs fans should have nothing to worry about. But his injury history speaks for himself, and he needs to prove to the team that he can stay healthy for more than a couple games. If he can’t then the Chiefs will have to bank on Kahlil Benson turning into more than a solid depth piece.
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