Chiefs’ Andy Reid says there’s a good chance Josh Simmons misses Week 1
· Yahoo Sports
With the Kansas City Chiefs starting the 2026 season on “Monday Night Football,” head coach Andy Reid’s weekly Monday press conference shifted to Tuesday ahead of the team’s first practice of the week on Thursday.
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That also delayed the unfortunate update Reid provided about starting left tackle Josh Simmons (Back), who has missed weeks of practice trying to recover from the preseason injury. After answering a few questions about the situation from local media, Reid got straight to the point about Simmons’ status.
“There’s a good chance Josh doesn’t play this week; that’s where we’re at,” Reid told 810 Sports’ Soren Petro during the press conference. “So we have that in our mind. He has an issue there that he is working through. I’m not putting any time restraint on when he comes back or when he can practice and how many practices he needs. I just want to make sure he’s healthy and okay to go.”
Andy Reid on Kahlil Benson: "We're comfortable playing Kahlil on the left side. … There's a good chance Josh [Simmons] doesn't play this week."
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) September 8, 2026
Before he reiterated the doubtful state of Simmons’ injury, he shared his thoughts on what the offensive line would look like without Simmons.
“If [Simmons is] not able to go, then we’ll be in with Kahlil [Benson] at that spot and we’ll roll from there.”
“We try to play the five best guys,” Reid added. “So we make that decision on that.”
As the Arrowhead Pride staff has speculated during the preseason, rookie offensive lineman Kahlil Benson’s tools have impressed Kansas City enough to be considered one of the team’s top linemen, regardless of position.
That’s why Reid sounds so firm on Benson filling in for Simmons, but he was not ready to confirm that Benson would be the direct substitute on the blindside.
“I’m not telling you that,” Reid responded when pushed about Benson at left tackle. “But we’re comfortable with Kahlil on either side; he has been playing the left side, so I feel comfortable with that. We’ll end up playing the five best guys, and right now, he is one of them.”
“If he has to be the left tackle, then he’s the left tackle,” Reid added. “And we roll with it. That’s just how it goes.”
While on the surface, Benson’s preseason wasn’t impressive, Reid sees a positive trait in the potential fill-in starter.
“He normally doesn’t make the same mistake twice, which I’ve mentioned before,” Reid said. That’s an important quality to have. He’s tough, so it’s just that he doesn’t have a whole lot of reps under his belt at this level as a rookie, but he’s very willing, and if he has to step in there and play — which it looks like he probably will — we feel comfortable with that.”
While we await an official practice designation for Simmons once practice begins this week, Reid emphasized that the second-year player is doing what it takes to return to the field.
“Josh is rehabbing; he’s working his tail off,” Reid shared. “This isn’t anything other than having an issue with his back; it’s just a matter of time here, but he continues to work hard with Rick and do his part there.”
Reid also shared that rookie left tackle Diego Pounds, whom the team traded for a couple of weeks ago, is “getting used to what we do offensively.” Reid remarked of Pounds’ talent and willingness to work hard, but “it’s just a matter of him getting a little time under his belt.”
Patrick Mahomes should be ready to roll
Before Reid got into the status of Simmons, he said everything but confirm that starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be taking the field in Week 1.
“There’s a pretty good chance Patrick will go ahead and start, unless something were to come up here in the next couple of days,” Reid said. “Most likely, he will be the guy that’s out there.”
“He has shown everything there,” Reid continued. “He hasn’t missed a day… other than having a brace on his leg; everything looks normal. He’s running around the same way he has always done and throwing the ball like he has always done. I think we’ll be fine there.”
The Chiefs are scheduled to begin the three-day routine of practices on Thursday, leading up to the AFC West battle on Monday evening.