KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Starting with Sunday night’s matchup against the Houston Texans, the Kansas City Chiefs will miss their first-round rookie left tackle, Josh Simmons, for at least the next four contests. Head coach Andy Reid revealed Wednesday that Simmons underwent surgery earlier in the week to fix a dislocated and broken left wrist, landing him on injured reserve.
The injury occurred last week when Simmons collided with running back Kareem Hunt during a chip block on defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, late in the third quarter of the Chiefs’ defeat to the Dallas Cowboys.
“We’ll monitor his recovery and see how it progresses,” Reid said about Simmons. “The kid’s passionate about the game—he’s bummed about sitting out, but he’s staying positive since the surgery was a success. That’s a huge win. He’s feeling optimistic. Now it’s all about the rehab, and he’s a grinder. He’ll put in whatever work it takes.”
Before getting hurt, Simmons had posted an elite pressure rate of just 6.6%—third-best among left tackles and second-best for a rookie LT since 2018 (with at least 150 pass-blocking snaps), per Next Gen Stats.
“He’s an incredibly gifted talent,” center Creed Humphrey said of Simmons. “He excels in so many areas. Consistency is the next step for him, but he’s been fantastic for us already. I can’t wait to see his future unfold.”
With Simmons out, Reid indicated the Chiefs may lean on veteran Wanya Morris, a three-year pro, to anchor the left tackle spot and shield quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ blind side.
The offensive line could take further hits Sunday, as right tackle Jawaan Taylor and right guard Trey Smith sat out Wednesday’s practice. Taylor exited the second half against Dallas due to a strained left triceps, while Smith sat out last week’s game with a sprained right ankle from the victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Mike Caliendo stepped in at right guard versus the Cowboys in Smith’s absence.
If Taylor can’t go, expect five-year veteran Jaylon Moore to slide over to right tackle; he already filled in at left tackle earlier this season during Simmons’ four-game absence for a personal “family matter.” Mahomes orchestrated two second-half touchdown drives against Dallas with Moore at right tackle and Morris at left, but the Chiefs know the Texans’ defense—tops in the NFL at 16.5 points and 265.7 yards allowed per game, with 10 games holding foes to 20 or fewer points—poses a sterner test, especially with edge rushers like Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.
“They’ve got game experience, so we’ll evaluate throughout the week how the banged-up guys hold up,” Mahomes said of his O-linemen. On Houston: “Credit where it’s due—they’ve got a stellar D-line. We’ll focus on quick releases, pounding the run, and capitalizing on any deep shots that open up.”
For the 6-6 Chiefs, who sit outside the AFC playoff mix with a 47% postseason shot per ESPN Analytics, Sunday’s tilt feels like a must-win elimination game. Mahomes noted last week that they must sweep their final five regular-season outings—all against AFC foes—to boost their playoff odds significantly.
Over his eight NFL seasons, Mahomes has thrived on designed scrambles in the playoffs to exploit defenses. Facing a potentially patchwork line against Houston’s ferocious front, he might need to improvise from the jump. He’s already tallied 348 rushing yards and a personal-best four rushing TDs this year.
“You’ve got to tap into every tool in the toolbox—not just my mobility,” Mahomes said. “We’ll throw the kitchen sink at them to pull out a W. This one’s huge for proving what we’re made of and setting the tone for our late push.”
