Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid dropped a bombshell that could totally reshape their offensive line for Week 1, revealing there’s “a good chance” left tackle Josh Simmons won’t play. This puts rookie offensive lineman Kahlil Benson, a guy who signed out of rookie minicamp tryouts back in May, directly into the spotlight, despite having spent exactly zero snaps at left tackle during his entire college career. Talk about a baptism by fire!
Benson’s journey to this moment has been a whirlwind; he’s bounced between right tackle, right guard, and now left tackle throughout his first NFL preseason. While Reid is “comfortable with Kahlil on either side” and noted Benson has been playing the left side in recent practices, it’s a massive leap for a player with such limited experience at the position. Pro Football Focus stats are wild: Benson logged 967 snaps at right guard, 1,653 at right tackle, and 42 at left guard across four years at the University of Indiana and the University of Colorado. He even had 2 snaps as an in-line tight end. What he didn’t have? A single collegiate snap at left tackle. Reid was firm, though, saying, “We’ll end up playing the five best guys, and right now, he is one of them.” He added, “If he has to be the left tackle, then he’s the left tackle. And we roll with it. That’s just how it goes.”
The Chiefs are no strangers to the “next-man-up mentality” on the offensive line, especially in the Patrick Mahomes era that’s already snagged three Super Bowl titles. We’ve seen it before: Cameron Erving stepped in for Eric Fisher at left tackle for eight games in 2019. Veteran Stefen Wisniewski came off the bench to start at left guard for Andrew Wylie through all three playoff games in 2019, including Super Bowl LIV. Nick Allegretti was a super reliable backup in 2022, starting three games and playing 262 snaps at both right and left guard, earning a ring for Super Bowl LVII. Even Wanya Morris, who got traded this offseason, started four games at left tackle in 2023 before Donovan Smith took over for Super Bowl LVIII. This team knows how to adapt. But those guys usually had more experience than Benson, especially at the specific position they were filling. The fact that they might not swap Benson to right tackle and put veteran Jaylon Moore at left tackle makes you wonder just how confident they are in Benson’s blind-side ability.
So, as Week 1 kicks off, all eyes will be on how Benson performs protecting Mahomes’ blind side. It’s a huge test for a rookie with no college experience at the spot, and a major gamble for a team that lives and dies by its quarterback. This isn’t just a regular game; it’s a massive statement about their trust in a raw talent.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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