Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid dropped a major bomb on Tuesday, confirming there’s a good chance starting left tackle Josh Simmons will miss Week 1’s “Monday Night Football” opener due to a lingering back injury. This isn’t just a bump in the road; Simmons has already missed weeks of practice trying to recover from a preseason injury, and now the line is in flux right out of the gate.
No Time for Josh Simmons, Just the Back Injury Blues
Reid didn’t mince words when talking to 810 Sports’ Soren Petro, stating flat out, “There’s a good chance Josh doesn’t play this week; that’s where we’re at.” The back issue is real, and Reid isn’t putting any timeline on Simmons’ return. He’s more concerned with Simmons getting “healthy and okay to go” than rushing him back for practice or game reps. Simmons is apparently “rehabing” and “working his tail off” with Rick, but it’s clearly a tough situation. This is a crucial position, especially heading into a prime-time kickoff, and losing your starting left tackle before the first snap is never good news.
Rookie Kahlil Benson Is Stepping Up, Ready or Not
So, what’s the plan? If Simmons can’t suit up, then it’s rookie offensive lineman Kahlil Benson stepping into that critical left tackle spot. Reid was firm on playing “the five best guys,” and it sounds like Benson has seriously impressed the Arrowhead Pride staff and the coaches. They’ve considered him one of the team’s top linemen already. While Reid wouldn’t confirm Benson as the *direct* blindside substitute initially, he later clarified: “If he has to be the left tackle, then he’s the left tackle.” Benson has been playing the left side, and Reid feels “comfortable with that.” The big man might be a rookie and lacking “a whole lot of reps at this level,” but he’s tough and, importantly, “normally doesn’t make the same mistake twice.” That’s a huge quality for an O-lineman, especially one thrown into the fire in Week 1. They also traded for rookie left tackle Diego Pounds a couple weeks ago, but he’s still “getting used to what we do offensively.”
As the Chiefs gear up for their “Monday Night Football” debut, all eyes will be squarely on that revamped offensive line. Can Benson step up big time and protect the blindside under the bright lights? We’re about to find out exactly what this rookie is made of when the first snap drops.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply