Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Josh Simmons was told to leave a meeting with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid before being placed on injured reserve this week, according to reports from ESPN and NFL Network.
Simmons, a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, was brought in as a potential long-term protector for Mahomes. He appeared in eight games during his rookie season but has not played at all in 2026. He landed on injured reserve on Thursday, and if eligible to return, could come back as early as Week 11.
The team had said the 23-year-old was dealing with a bulging disc in his back. He had previously been listed on the Chiefs’ injury report as a non-participant for “back/non-injury personal reasons,” a designation that left his situation largely unexplained.
According to the reports, Simmons put his feet up on a desk during a team meeting while speaking with Reid. When Reid told him to put his feet down, Simmons reportedly said he needed to keep them elevated to help his back. Reid told him to seek treatment from the team’s athletic trainers. As the exchange continued, Mahomes reportedly backed Reid’s instruction that Simmons get treatment rather than manage the issue himself in the meeting. Simmons was then told to leave the room and later apologized for his conduct.
Simmons had already drawn scrutiny before entering the league. Questions about his character circulated ahead of the 2025 draft, and he was coming off a patellar tendon injury heading into that process.
With Simmons’ availability uncertain, Kahlil Benson has stepped into the left tackle role. Benson has played in all five of the Chiefs’ games so far this season.
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