Josh Simmons slammed with big warning about Chiefs future

The Kansas City Chiefs hoped that Josh Simmons would finally break the left tackle curse.

The former first-round pick was a bit of a mixed bag as a rookie, but he showed just enough promise to keep the starting left tackle job ahead of Week 2. That might not be the case anymore, as he's once again dealing with an injury, and his replacement did more than well in Week 1.

That's why Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report believes he's under extreme heat to prove that he's worth the hassle.

Josh Simmons may have to earn his starting spot in Kansas City

"Unfortunately, Simmons missed nine games during his rookie season due to a personal absence and a wrist injury. He wasn't particularly great when he was on the field, either, which left him with plenty to prove heading into Year 2," Knox wrote. "If Simmons hopes to lock down a starting job with the Chiefs, he has to get back on the field and prove that he is more than a replacement-level player."

Undrafted rookie free agent Kahlil Benson did an outstanding job against Nik Bonitto in Week 1. He had never started a game at left tackle, but he held his own and kept Patrick Mahomes out of harm's way. As talented as Simmons is, he hasn't been available often since the Chiefs took him late in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

And while losing his job to an undrafted rookie might sound a bit too drastic, this is meritocracy, and he has to show that he can stay on the field and is worth all the money he might get as a first-round left tackle once it's all said and done. For now, he's considered week-to-week with an injured back.