The Chiefs’ Week 7 setup against the Seahawks is being shaped less by what Kansas City might gain back and more by what it has to live without. Josh Simmons landing on injured reserve keeps the left tackle situation in a holding pattern, and Jaylon Moore’s concussion strips away another option on the offensive line.
That matters because the absences pile up beyond the front. Kansas City is also without Rashee Rice and Brashard Smith, which means the offense has to find a way to function with fewer reliable answers both in protection and in the passing game.
Simmons’ IR move came Thursday after a bulging disk in his lower back. He had already missed the Chiefs’ first five games, and this designation now locks him out for at least four more.
Rick Burkholder said Simmons’ rehabilitation had “plateaued” before he got to the final stage required to return to competition. Surgery was not recommended, but more recovery time was needed.
So this is not a short-term patch job with Simmons. It’s a longer adjustment, and Kansas City has to keep building around the players already in place. Undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson stays at left tackle, while Joshua Ezeudu is expected to step in for Moore on the right side against Seattle.
That creates a real issue at the edges. A tight end or running back can help a tackle, but when both sides need assistance, the offense can lose receivers downfield. The Chiefs can still go deep if they want to, but the protection plan becomes a major part of deciding when that is actually feasible.
Moore’s week was a total non-starter; he missed every practice and was ruled out with a concussion. Rice, meanwhile, logged three straight nonparticipation listings before being declared out with hamstring and knee injuries. Smith is also out, with reporting pointing to a hamstring issue.
Put together, those losses could steer Kansas City toward faster throws, shorter completions and a tighter emphasis on staying out of obvious passing situations. That does come with its own downside, though: quick-game concepts help the tackles, but they still demand clean separation and efficient yards after the catch.
There is some relief in the receiving group. Travis Kelce was limited all week with an ankle injury, but he carries no game designation.
That is not the same as being questionable, though it also does not mean he is operating at full speed. Cyrus Allen, who practiced fully all week with a knee injury, also has no game designation and gives the Chiefs another receiving body as they sort out how to replace Rice’s production.
The goal, at least on paper, is to stay varied. If the offense becomes too predictable, that only makes life harder for replacement tackles and the rest of the front.
There are encouraging signs elsewhere. Patrick Mahomes practiced fully Wednesday, Thursday and Friday despite a knee injury and has no game designation.
Guard Trey Smith followed the same full-participation pattern while dealing with a hip injury. That gives Kansas City something to lean on inside even as the edges remain unsettled.
On defense, L’Jarius Sneed is questionable after three limited practices because of a knee injury. Chamarri Conner was a full participant all week with a knee issue, and linebacker Cooper McDonald stayed limited. Neither received a game designation.
But the offensive problem is the one that defines this week. Simmons’ move to IR doesn’t change the fact that he was already out, but it does remove any immediate hope of a return. With Moore and Rice also unavailable, the Chiefs have to protect Mahomes, spread the ball around and avoid forcing the issue while the line keeps shuffling around them.
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