Chiefs head coach Andy Reid just spilled the beans on one of the biggest question marks hanging over their 2026 season. Josh Simmons, the guy protecting Patrick Mahomes’ blind side, is officially dealing with a bulging disc in his lower back. That’s why he hasn’t hit the field for his season debut, man. He’s been out of practice since mid-August after initially injuring his back way back in training camp.
What Exactly Is Going On With That Back?
Okay, so let’s get into what a ‘bulging disc’ actually means. The lower back, or lumbar spine, has five big bones called vertebrae. Between each of those, you’ve got these intervertebral discs. Think of them as shock absorbers, cushioning everything and keeping those nerves happy. They’re supposed to prevent compression and all sorts of nasty degenerative conditions. When one bulges, the outside layer stretches out, but the gel-like inside stays put. It’s not a full-blown herniated disc, that’s when the outer layer actually tears, but it’s still a huge problem.
This isn’t some minor tweak either. A bulging disc can cause some serious pain, limit how you move, and even mess with your lower body. We’re talking about radicular symptoms here: pain, numbness, tingling, and even weakness in your legs. That’s because the nerves from your lower spine branch out to your legs. So if that disc is pushing on a nerve, boom, you’re feeling it all the way down there. For an offensive tackle, someone who needs every ounce of strength and agility, that’s absolutely brutal.
The Long Road Back, Or The Lack Thereof
Here’s the kicker, and Reid actually said it best himself: “backs can be kind of tricky.” And man, does Simmons’ situation prove it. There’s no set timeline for a bulging disc to heal up. That’s the worst part, right? So many things can affect how fast it goes. Early on, it’s all about decompression and rest, trying to get that mobility back. If he’s got those lower-extremity symptoms, the goal is to get that pain centralized back into the lower back itself. Only once that calms down can they even start talking about strengthening and getting back to high-level activity.
The fact that Simmons hasn’t practiced in a month and a half tells you everything you need to know: this is a big one. What we don’t know, and this is crucial, is how bad the bulge actually is, is it mild, moderate, or severe? Are multiple discs messed up? More discs or a bigger bulge means worse symptoms and a much longer recovery. Given the lower-extremity weakness reported, nerve compression is almost certainly happening. This means the focus has to shift from a timeline to just getting him healthy, because speed, power, strength, and body control are everything for an offensive tackle. You just can’t play that position if your back and legs aren’t 100 percent.
So for Chiefs fans, this is a major headache. Simmons is Mahomes’ blind-side protector, a critical role. Losing him for an unknown period, especially with lower-extremity issues, is a huge blow. There’s nothing to do now but wait for more updates and hope that “tricky” back starts to heal up. This is going to be a story to watch for a while, and everyone’s just gotta cross their fingers he can get back on the field protecting number 15 as soon as humanly possible.
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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