The Kansas City Chiefs are keeping quiet regarding a Josh Simmons update, as the rookie left tackle’s status for Week 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders remains unclear. Head coach Andy Reid declined to offer much clarity about Simmons’ potential return after he missed Sunday night’s win over the Detroit Lions for personal reasons, leaving questions about the offensive line’s makeup heading into a key divisional matchup.
When asked postgame about Simmons’ situation, Reid didn’t offer much insight into when the rookie might rejoin the team.
“We’ll see when he’s (Josh Simmons) back. He’s got to take care of that then we’ll see where it goes from there. But we were aware of it, yeah.”
Reid followed up with reporters again on Monday, doubling down on his stance to keep the matter private.
“As far as Josh’s (Simmons) situation goes, it’s a personal issue,” Reid said. “I’m not going to talk about that; I did a little bit last night (and) then leave it at that. But I thought Jaylon (Moore) stepped in and did a nice job there.”
According to The Athletic’s Nate Taylor on the “Only Weird Games“ podcast, the Chiefs still don’t know when Simmons will be back with the team, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Jaylon Moore starts again this Sunday versus the Raiders.
The uncertainty surrounding Simmons’ status is nothing new for Kansas City’s offensive line. The team has faced recurring instability at the left tackle position in recent seasons. Last year alone, the Chiefs cycled through four different players at the spot before ultimately relying on All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney to finish the season protecting Patrick Mahomes’ blind side.
That revolving door was one of the main reasons Kansas City invested in both Moore and Simmons during the offseason, with the hope of solidifying the position long-term. With the latter’s absence, it will likely once again be on Moore to hold his own against another All-Pro-caliber pass rusher this coming Sunday.
Despite Simmons’ absence against Detroit, the Chiefs’ offensive line held up well thanks to Jaylon Moore’s performance in his first start. Moore allowed one sack and three total pressures across 40 pass-blocking snaps while facing All-Pro edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson for much of the night. Head coach Andy Reid expressed high praise for the debutant’s performance.
“I thought he was solid. He did a nice job. He was going against an all-pro player 50% of the time… He was solid in the run game, too, run and pass. He had a productive day.”
Moore’s poise under pressure has earned the trust of both coaches and teammates, and if Simmons remains unavailable for Week 7, the Chiefs appear confident that Moore can handle Maxx Crosby and the Raiders’ aggressive front. While the team awaits clarity on Simmons’ situation, Kansas City at least knows it has a capable replacement ready to step in.
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