Kansas City Chiefs starting left tackle Josh Simmons is still sidelined with a back injury and will not play in Friday’s preseason finale against our Seattle Seahawks. What started as an injury that “nothing indicated… was a serious issue” during training camp over a week ago has now clearly turned into something more persistent, and it sets up a prime opportunity for our defense to go to work.
Chiefs’ O-Line Concerns Are Our Opportunity
When Simmons first missed practice, the vibe was it was a short-term thing, no biggie. But fast forward to now, and the second-year player still can’t practice. Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid was asked about Simmons’ recovery during a press conference on Wednesday and gave a classic vague answer, saying they’re “Just getting his back checked out. That’s the main thing. I mean, he was doing good when he was in there, but he’s got the back. Like any other injury, we’ve got to make sure and see if it’s right or what’s wrong with it.” Talk about not giving us any clarity! The upshot is rookie Kahlil Benson is getting the shot at left tackle. This is huge, 12s, because our guys on defense, led by Coach Mike Macdonald, will be facing a starting O-line with a new face protecting the blind side. You know they’ll be watching Benson closely, trying to find any weakness to exploit.
Trading for Depth Shows Kansas City’s Worries
It’s not just Simmons’ injury that hints at potential issues for the Chiefs’ offensive line. They recently traded for offensive lineman Ezeudu, described as a depth piece for a late-round pick. This move screams that they knew they needed more protection up front. Ezeudu graded out decently in limited snaps back in 2024 after a couple of rough seasons, but he’s definitely a backup. The report says if he’s playing significant snaps, they’re “not in a good spot.” With Simmons out, Ezeudu could be getting some real reps. This isn’t just a preseason game for our Seahawks; it’s a chance to see how well the Chiefs can patch up their O-line, and more importantly, how much havoc our defensive front can create against it.
Friday’s preseason finale against the Chiefs isn’t just another game. It’s our chance to see what our defense can do against a potentially vulnerable Chiefs offensive line. How will Kahlil Benson hold up? Can our pass rush get after him? We’ll be watching every snap, Emerald City, looking for those early season trends that tell us what kind of force our Seahawks are going to be this year.
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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