The Kansas City Chiefs ruled out offensive tackle Josh Simmons for Monday's Week 1 home game against the Denver Broncos due to a back injury.
Simmons missed practice the past few weeks and didn't suit up in Kansas City's final two preseason games.
Drafted in the first round in 2025 out of Ohio State, Simmons started only eight contests last season because of a wrist injury and a multi-week absence for personal reasons. He finished the campaign allowing two sacks and 18 pressures in 367 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF.
Kahlil Benson, who signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent this offseason, is expected to start in Simmons' place at left tackle after working his way up the depth chart. If Benson gets the nod, he'd be the first undrafted rookie to start in Week 1 for Kansas City in Andy Reid's 13 years as the Chiefs' head coach.
"He's obviously shown us that he has ability to play," Reid said of Benson this week, according to The Athletic's Jesse Newell. "We wouldn't put him in there if we didn't think that."
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will make his return Monday night after tearing his ACL last campaign. The star signal-caller was sacked 2.43 times per game in 2025, his most in a season since entering the NFL, per TruMedia.
Last year, Denver's defense led the league in sacks with 68 and finished fourth in pressure rate (13.5%). The Chiefs will be looking to end a three-game losing streak against the Broncos.
