Andy Reid weighs in on Josh Simmons’ first game after missing more than a month
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Chiefs reinserted rookie left tackle Josh Simmons after week-long practice.
- Simmons played all 70 snaps but committed two penalties that stalled key drives.
- Coach Andy Reid praised Simmons’ mental and physical readiness despite absence.
It didn’t take long for Andy Reid to determine Josh Simmons was ready for game action when the rookie left tackle returned to practice last week after missing the previous four games.
“Some of it was physical, where was he at?” Reid said. “Some of it was mental: Can you handle where we are now, four weeks later, with what we’re doing? He handled it well through the week.”
That made it an easy call for Reid and the Chiefs to return Simmons immediately to the starting lineup for Sunday’s 22-19 loss at the Denver Broncos.
Simmons played all 70 offensive snaps and had two penalties accepted (three flagged) but received a passing grade in Reid’s estimation.
“Had a couple of penalties he’s got to clean up, but that was a pretty big assignment he had with those defensive ends,” Reid said. “I thought he did a respectable job there.”
Simmons, the first-round pick from Ohio State, started the Chiefs’ first five games before leaving town in what the team termed a family matter. KC listed him on the injury report as NIR, non-injury related.
Simmons hasn’t spoken publicly about his absence and didn’t meet with reporters after Sunday’s game.
He returned to practice last Wednesday. Jaylon Moore had filled in for Simmons, and the Chiefs went 3-1 in those games.
The penalties — Simmons had two of the team’s 10 — contributed to slowing Chiefs drives. The first was a holding call after the Chiefs had reached the Broncos’ 19, and the drive ended in Harrison Butker’s second field goal.
The second was a false start with 21 seconds remaining in the first half that eroded the Chiefs’ chances of getting points in the final minute.
This story was originally published November 17, 2025 at 1:31 PM.