Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons remains sidelined, considered week-to-week with a back injury after missing the season’s first two games. This is a serious problem for the offensive line, especially with undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson having to step up and start in his place. Head coach Andy Reid gave an update that sounds positive on the surface, but it still leaves a ton of uncertainty hanging over Kansas City.
Simmons’ Back Injury Is A Real Headache For The O-Line
Reid told reporters in his Monday video conference that Simmons is “working his tail off,” doing “everything” in the building to get back on the field. That’s good to hear from a player’s perspective, but let’s be real, his back isn’t exactly cooperating. Reid admitted they knew it would be “a couple, two, three, four games in here as long as he was making progress.” A two-to-four-game window? That’s not exactly a short absence, especially two games into the season. The coach also noted Simmons is in a “flex area” while they wait to see if things “calmed down” and if the “swelling has gone down.” That doesn’t scream “ready to play.” It sounds more like a waiting game, which is never good when you are relying on a second-year left tackle to protect your quarterback. Every snap Benson takes is experience, sure, but it’s also a big ask for an undrafted rookie in early season matchups.
Emergency Duty For Delane And What It Means
The O-line isn’t the only spot dealing with early-season injury questions. Rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane also got hit, injuring his shoulder in the Week 1 win over the Broncos. He was active for Sunday’s win against the Colts, which might sound like progress, right? Wrong. Delane didn’t take a single snap. Reid clarified that Delane was basically only available for “an emergency situation.” He said Delane’s shoulder “wasn’t coming around as fast as we wanted,” and he was “right on the border” of being able to play. So, they basically had a guy on the roster who couldn’t really go, further highlighting some early roster concerns. It’s a tough spot when your depth players are only good for break-glass-in-case-of-emergency moments.
This early in the season, you need guys healthy and ready to roll. The Chiefs are clearly navigating some significant injury issues for key positions. For Simmons, the timeline remains murky at best, and for Delane, it’s clear they were pushing it just to have him in uniform. What happens next with Simmons’ back and Delane’s shoulder is going to be huge as the season unfolds. These guys gotta get right, fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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