Chiefs should be worried about Josh Simmons' 'mystery' injury

The Kansas City Chiefs managed to do much more than just get by in Week 1.

Andy Reid's team made a big statement against the hard-hitting Denver Broncos, running the ball down their throats and smothering Bo Nix on defense. While most people focused on Patrick Mahomes' injury return, undrafted free agent Kahlil Benson was one of the most surprising and highest points of the evening.

And according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, he may have to be Mahomes' blindside protector for a while, as there's still no word on the severity or extent of Josh Simmons' back injury.

Josh Simmons might not be back soon for the Chiefs

"The Simmons injury remains a mystery. In late August, he underwent tests on his back. Part of the testing was to see whether a disc issue had flared up. Information has been scarce since then. The Chiefs have treated this as if he's week-to-week. Meanwhile, they continue to rely on young players at several positions. Benson is the latest to shine," Fowler wrote. 

Being week-to-week is never a positive development, more so for a player who has already missed extensive time in his young NFL career.

Benson did an outstanding job of holding his own against Nik Bonitto and the Broncos' sturdy pass rush, keeping Mahomes out of harm's way and not giving up a single sack. That said, he's a right tackle with little to no experience on the other side of the line.

Simmons was the Chiefs' first-round pick in 2025 and seemed poised to be their left tackle of the future. That might still happen, but availability is the best ability.

There were already some concerns after watching him slim down between seasons, and now that there's no timetable for a potential return, the Chiefs might reconsider their plans for the former Ohio State star.

As for Benson, he'll now have to prove the league wrong for letting him go undrafted, showing that Week 1 wasn't a fluke. But if he can't do it, this team could be in a whole lot of trouble, especially with its quarterback returning from a major injury.