Josh Simmons Heads to Injured Reserve as His Back Rehab Stalls

Chiefs Kingdom, the left tackle question just got a longer answer. Josh Simmons is going on injured reserve.

Rick Burkholder, the Chiefs' vice president of sports medicine and performance, laid out the timeline for reporters Thursday, as reported by KCTV5 and Yahoo Sports. Simmons first came to the training staff on Aug. 17 at camp with what felt like calf trouble, on the same leg where he tore his patellar tendon at Ohio State in 2024. An MRI instead found a bulging, herniated disc in his lumbar spine, higher up than the team usually sees in linemen. A spine specialist in California recommended rehab over surgery, and a follow-up MRI showed the disc had improved.

Simmons got back to limited practice last week, but Burkholder said the rehab has now plateaued short of a return to competition. Simmons sat out Wednesday listed as back/personal while he talked things over with his family and representatives, and everyone agreed IR was the right call. Surgery still isn't recommended.

The move means the 2025 first-round pick has to miss at least four more games. The earliest he can play is Week 11 against the Arizona Cardinals, per KCTV5 and Heavy.

Our Take: this is the right long-term call. A disc problem in a young left tackle is not something to rush, and undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson has started every game at left tackle so far, earning AFC Rookie of the Month for September. The 5-0 start came without Simmons, and the Chiefs can keep winning while he gets fully healthy.

What to watch: Benson against the Seattle pass rush Sunday night, and any update on Simmons as the four-game window closes.

Sources: KCTV5, Yahoo Sports, Heavy, ProFootballTalk