All summer, Chiefs Kingdom tracked Patrick Mahomes’ journey back from a season-ending ACL tear. While head coach Andy Reid officially cleared the superstar quarterback to start Week 1 against Denver, a terrifying void lingers on his blindside. The franchise has maintained a cryptic silence regarding left tackle Josh Simmons, who was sidelined by a mysterious back injury during training camp. The frustrating silence finally boiled over when former Chiefs All-Pro Mitchell Schwartz publicly blasted the organization on social media, turning a quiet injury update into a full-blown front-office concern.

“I know the Chiefs don’t care what we think of the Josh Simmons situation but they’re also doing absolutely nothing to make any of the speculation, rumors, etc. die down,” wrote Schwartz on X. “The entire thing has been weird from the get go given their initial words, timeline, and expectation.”

The Ohio State product is dealing with a back injury that he sustained last month. The injury proved serious enough to sideline him from training camp in mid-August. During the first preseason presser, head coach Andy Reid took a nonchalant approach about the situation and hinted that fans have nothing to worry about Simmons’ injury. Unfortunately, the reality was very different.  Simmons missed every preseason snap, yet the team offered no clarity on his status.

“He had the back checked and there’s a spot in there that flared up and now you’ve gotta sit here and wait until that things calms down,” shared Reid in a presser on September 6. “He’s been here working out and doing the rehab stuff, so we’ll see where it goes.”

During a press conference, Andy Reid told 810 Sports’ Soren Petro that there is a strong chance Josh Simmons won’t be ready to take the field against Denver. However, the head coach stopped short of giving a definitive timeline, instead pivoting toward a contingency plan if the starting tackle is ultimately forced to sit.

“If [Simmons is] not able to go, then we’ll be in with Kahlil [Benson] at that spot, and we’ll roll from there.”

Reid’s firm endorsement of Benson isn’t entirely out of nowhere. Throughout the preseason, beat writers at Arrowhead Pride noted that the rookie offensive lineman’s raw tools and physical profile had deeply impressed the coaching staff, earning him consideration as one of Kansas City’s most promising young blockers regardless of position.

Yet, Reid’s confidence offered little real clarity. By avoiding any commitment on whether Benson would directly take over on Patrick Mahomes’ blindside, considering the rookie played exclusively at right tackle and guard in college, the head coach’s vagueness only heightened the confusion surrounding the lineup. That lack of reassurance became even more pronounced shortly after.

Appearing on Sports Radio 810 WHB on September 7, Kansas City Star insider Pete Sweeney presented a starkly contrasting perspective on Simmons’ status.

“Am I confident that he plays week 1? No,” Sweeney said. “At this stage, I don’t think he will, but it isn’t ruled out. I think that at least on the moves the Chiefs have made they at least think he’ll be back by Week 3, or you would put that player on IR. And so based upon what we’ve seen, I think it’ll be Kahlil Benson at left tackle and Jaylon Moore at right tackle. Obviously it isn’t ideal, but in this particular one, I’d be surprised if Simmons started Week 1.”

Fans were hopeful of receiving a final answer as they headed to the season-opener. A day later, Reid did address the situation. However, as usual, they were deliberately vague about Simmons’ return, which made Schwartz upset. The confusion must be already giving Chiefs fans sleepless nights. Simmons’ return is very crucial for the franchise. Replacement names like Kahlil Benson and Jaylon Moore carry big question marks filling up that spot. 

On paper, Simmons is undeniably the far better fit for the role. An explosive, athletic tackle prospect with ideal size and length, he brings valuable experience starting on both sides of the line. Before a season-ending knee injury derailed his college campaign in mid-October, Simmons established himself as a consistently fluid mover, showing elite slide quickness to combat high-end NFL edge rushers while effortlessly executing in space.

Though his run-blocking relies more on leverage and positioning than pure power, his athletic profile allows him to seamlessly fit into any scheme. Benson, by contrast, presents a stark stylistic drop-off. According to draft experts like The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, Benson plays with noticeable stiffness in his lower half. That physical limitation leads to glaring balance issues.