Chiefs LT Josh Simmons Told To Leave Team Meeting

The day before the team placed Simmons on injured reserve for a back issue, he sat with his feet up in the offense’s meeting room when Reid asked him to put them down.

Simmons said he sat that way because of pain in his hips and back, and Reid told him to get treatment from the athletic trainers if he was in pain.

The back-and-forth continued until QB Patrick Mahomes spoke up and told Simmons to leave and get treatment. Simmons left the room but stayed in the building, later apologizing to Reid and the Mahomes by saying he could have handled the situation with more grace.

Simmons was then placed on injured reserve solely because of the bulging, herniated disk in his lower back.

Chiefs VP of sports medicine and performance Rick Burkholder said Simmons has plateaued in the recovery process, and Simmons and the team collectively decided an injured reserve stint was the best course of action. Burkholder said the team isn’t considering surgery right now, but Simmons needs more time to return to full health. 

Simmons, 23, started his career at San Diego State and started all 13 games at right tackle in 2022 before transferring to Ohio State in 2023. The Chiefs selected Simmons with the No. 32 overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

He signed a four-year, $14,656,682 contract that includes a $7,299,405 signing bonus. The contract includes a fifth-year option for the team to pick up in 2028.

In 2025, Simmons appeared in eight games for the Chiefs, making eight starts for them at left tackle. 

We’ll have more on Simmons as the news becomes available.