Josh Simmons’ Mysterious Absence Continues to Intrigue
The situation surrounding Josh Simmons is still a point of curiosity for the Chiefs.
After missing two games in a row last week, Chiefs coach Andy Reid found himself in a rather awkward position on Monday, as the situation became increasingly puzzling.
“We don’t have any updates on Josh,” Reid mentioned to reporters. “Brett Veach is managing everything related to that. So, we’re just moving forward.”
While specific details regarding the first-round pick’s absence have not been disclosed, there have been reports labeling it as “highly unusual.”
Simmons left the team to address a situation back in Kansas City, opting to return to California. He missed the Chiefs’ 30-17 victory over the Lions on Sunday Night Football on October 5, which was described as stemming from a family issue.
Reid had previously shut down inquiries about Simmons last Wednesday, stating, “I’m not going to comment on that today. Veach is taking care of it, and that’s all I’ll say.”
Meanwhile, star quarterback Patrick Mahomes hinted at the seriousness of the matter. “We’re keeping the lines of communication open,” Mahomes said. “I pray for him all the time since I pray for all my teammates. But, other than that, I think I’ll keep our conversations private.”
An ESPN reporter recently talked about Simmons on a podcast, highlighting that these are indeed “highly unusual” times and that the team is uncertain about his return. In fact, Simmons was absent again during last Sunday’s 31-0 win against the Raiders.
Simmons was selected by the Chiefs with the 32nd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He started the first five games and participated in 95% of the offensive snaps. Despite his absence, the Chiefs have managed to cope well, with Jaylon Moore stepping in to protect Mahomes’ blindside over the last two weeks. The offense is scoring an impressive average of 30.5 points, improving their record to 4-3.
The team also has an extra day of preparation this week for their Week 8 “Monday Night Football” game at home against the Commanders, who might be facing their own challenges with quarterback Jayden Daniels dealing with a hamstring injury.
