CHIEFS' JOSH SIMMONS OUT WITH BULGING DISC, SURGERY NOT EXPECTED

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said left tackle Josh Simmons is dealing with a bulging disc in his lower back that has affected the strength of his leg, according to Reid's Wednesday comments reported by SleeperChiefs on X. Simmons has missed the Chiefs' first three games of the 2026 season and will also sit out practice in Week 4. Reid said Simmons is making progress and working through the issue daily, though the team does not have a firm timeline for his return. As a result, Kansas City has kept Simmons on its active roster rather than placing him on injured reserve.

Simmons first appeared on the injury report with a back problem during training camp in August and has not practised since. In his absence, undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson has taken over at left tackle and is expected to start again on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders, according to the report. Reid said Benson has helped the team through the opening part of the season, though the Chiefs have experienced some issues with pass protection. Simmons previously missed most of his final college season at Ohio State in 2024 after a season-ending patellar tendon injury.

Asked whether Simmons could eventually require surgery, Reid said that is not the direction he expects the situation to take, while stopping short of ruling it out entirely. He said the team believes it is heading in the right direction and expects to be "in a good place" with time. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has also been following Simmons' recovery, according to the report. No further update on Simmons' timeline has been given.