newstalkkzrg
The Kansas City Chiefs have moved starting left tackle Josh Simmons to injured reserve because of a bulging disk in his lower back, the team announced Thursday. The transaction guarantees that Simmons will be sidelined for a minimum of four additional weeks, compounding an already frustrating season in which he has yet to appear in any of the first five games.
In his absence, undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson will keep manning the critical left tackle spot, entrusted with guarding the blind side of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. On the opposite side of the line, Jaylon Moore remains in the concussion protocol, meaning Joshua Ezeudu is projected to start at right tackle for Sunday night's matchup in Seattle.
Kansas City selected Simmons in the first round of the 2025 draft with the expectation that he could become the long-term answer at left tackle. He was recovering from a significant knee injury sustained at Ohio State, but the Chiefs were confident he would heal fully in time to contribute as a rookie. His knee has not been an issue; instead, a series of unrelated setbacks have kept him off the field.
Simmons started the first five games of last season before stepping away to handle personal matters. He returned to start three more contests before a fractured and dislocated hand sent him to injured reserve for the remainder of the year. He reported to training camp in late July feeling healthy and optimistic that his injury troubles were behind him.
However, on Aug. 17, Simmons mentioned discomfort in his calf. The Chiefs' medical staff traced the problem to his back. Head trainer Rick Burkholder ordered an MRI exam that revealed a herniated and bulging disk. According to Burkholder, the disk issue was located "higher up than we normally see in our offensive linemen, which complicated the case." The team sought a second opinion from a back specialist in California, who determined that rehabilitation, rather than surgery, could resolve the injury. That recommendation explains why the Chiefs delayed placing Simmons on injured reserve until Thursday.
"Josh worked his tail off," Burkholder said. "He worked diligently with my staff every day, and he improved to the point where he returned to practice in a limited capacity last week. However we feel he plateaued in the recovery process. ... He's just not there yet." After consultations involving Simmons, his family and his representatives, the decision to place him on injured reserve was reached collectively. "It was decided and agreed upon by everybody," Burkholder said, adding that surgery is still not anticipated.
Benson has exceeded expectations since taking over at left tackle. The former Indiana offensive lineman has held his own, and when Ezeudu was pressed into action against the Los Angeles Chargers last Sunday, he performed well in Moore's stead on the right side for the remainder of the game. Ezeudu, a third-round pick of the New York Giants in the 2022 draft, was acquired by Kansas City in August for a seventh-round selection.
Key Analysis
"He's played before," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said of Ezeudu, "and when we brought him in, we knew that, and we knew he was a good player. So now, potentially, there's an opportunity to be in there and play, and I thought he did a nice job when he was in there this past weekend. So yeah, I think everybody around him has got confidence in him, too." The Chiefs' offensive line depth will be tested as they navigate a challenging stretch without their projected franchise left tackle, but the emergence of Benson and the steady play of Ezeudu provide some reassurance.
Originally reported by newstalkkzrg.