The Chiefs’ Monday night plans may already be taking a hit before kickoff even arrives, and the biggest concern sits on the edge of the line.
Kansas City left tackle Josh Simmons was listed as a non-participant on the team’s first injury report of the season, a development that strongly points toward rookie Kahlil Benson stepping in on the left side against the Denver Broncos if Simmons can’t go. Simmons has been dealing with a back injury for more than a week, and Andy Reid already said there was a “good chance” he’d miss Monday night’s game.
That report didn’t bring much comfort elsewhere, either. Cornerback Chamarri Conner was the only other player to miss practice yesterday, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk.
At the same time, the full-participant group was packed with notable names: quarterback Patrick Mahomes (knee), linebacker Jack Cochrane (knee), defensive end Ashton Gillotte (foot), wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee), guard Trey Smith (hip), cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (knee), defensive end R Mason Thomas (hamstring) and wide receiver Xavier Worthy (shoulder).
It’s a hefty Week 1 injury list, but Reid’s approach to these reports has a pattern of its own. The Chiefs coach often uses what amounts to a “kitchen sink” style on the injury sheet, which means the designation doesn’t always tell the full story. Sometimes players who look ready wind up sitting, and sometimes the opposite happens.
Still, Simmons’ status matters because it can ripple beyond one position. Kansas City entered training camp with a plan to lean more on new running back Kenneth Walker III up the middle, and that idea is still on the table. But life just got tougher for that ground game if the Chiefs are forced to play without their left tackle.
Mahomes’ situation is part of the equation, too. He’s been rolling out and running around a little in camp, but game speed is a different test entirely. If Simmons is out, the Chiefs could get even more conservative, with the goal of keeping the game tight and making touchdowns harder to come by.
In Other News...
Chiefs Suddenly Have A Massive Week 1 Concern On Defense
The Chiefs defensive plans for Week 1 took a late hit Friday when Chris Jones popped up on the injury report with a calf issue after not appearing there the day before. Jones was listed as limited in practice, which is enough to raise eyebrows given how central he is to Kansas Citys front and how much the unit leans on him in big divisional games.
Kansas City now has to wait until Saturdays practice to get a better read on where he stands before finalizing his game status for the season opener against the Broncos. For a defense already trying to set its tone early, any uncertainty around Jones is the kind of development that changes the conversation fast. [Read more 🡒]
Taylor Swift May Miss Kelces Opener As Bigger Chiefs Question Looms
The Chiefs are headed toward another season in the spotlight, and not just because of what happens on the field. Taylor Swift is facing a scheduling conflict between the Emmy Awards ceremony and Kansas Citys season opener, which could keep her from being at the game as Travis Kelce and the rest of the team begin the year. Even beyond that opening-week question, the broader picture around her presence has become part of the conversation again.
A Hollywood insider also reported that Swift has decided not to move to Kansas City, despite having no current tour or event obligations, a choice that suggests she will keep some distance from Kelce during the NFL season. There is still the possibility she could travel for some games, but for the Chiefs, it adds another layer to a year in which the off-field storyline will follow the on-field one wherever it goes. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Left Tackle Worry Just Grew With Latest Veteran Twist
The Chiefs left tackle situation was already a concern, and the latest move around D.J. Humphries only adds another layer to it. Washington released the veteran tackle just two weeks after signing him, a reminder of how quickly the veteran market can shift for a position group that is already thin and hard to stabilize.
Kansas City is still expected to turn to rookie Kahlil Benson on the blind side because of injuries and roster moves, even with the obvious questions that come with asking a newcomer to handle that job. Humphries had previously been tried out by the Chiefs without sticking, and with his injury history still part of the evaluation, he does not look like an easy fix for a problem that keeps hanging over the offense. [Read more 🡒]