Josh Simmons apologized after ESPN says Reid and Mahomes sent him away
Kansas City Chiefs second-year offensive tackle Josh Simmons was sent away from an offensive team meeting by head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes after a confrontation, ESPN reported. The 2025 first-round draft pick later apologized to team leadership before being placed on injured reserve.
Meeting Room Confrontation Leads to Team Discipline
The incident occurred last Wednesday in the Kansas City offensive meeting room. According to multiple sources who witnessed the interaction, Simmons was sitting with his feet up when Reid instructed him to put his feet down. Simmons pushed back, stating that aching back and hips forced him to sit that way. Reid told Simmons to seek treatment from athletic trainers if he was in pain, leading to a back-and-forth exchange that disrupted the meeting.
Mahomes then intervened, echoing Reid’s directive for Simmons to leave the room and get treatment. a perturbed Simmons left the room but remained in the building. Later that day, Simmons apologized to Reid and team leadership, acknowledging that he could have handled the situation better.
Back Injury Compounds Medical Struggles
The dispute preceded a roster move that sidelined the 6-foot-5, 310-pound lineman. The Chiefs placed Simmons on injured reserve Thursday due to a bulging, herniated disk in his lower back. Rick Burkholder, Kansas City vice president of sports medicine and performance, told reporters that a personal designation on Wednesday’s injury report was allotted to give Simmons time to consult with his family and representation regarding rehabilitation steps.
Simmons has battled physical setbacks since August, when initial calf discomfort revealed a bulging disk via MRI. After multiple medical opinions recommended rehabilitation over surgery, Simmons returned to practice following the team’s Week 5 bye. Persistent discomfort prompted the team to place him on injured reserve.
Simmons Misses Four Games Starting Sunday
Under league rules, Simmons will miss a minimum of four games, starting with a Sunday night road matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. The earliest he can return to the active roster is November 22, when the Chiefs host the Arizona Cardinals for Week 11.
Drafted last in the first round of the 2025 draft, Simmons has appeared in only eight of 22 possible games since joining the franchise. He missed four games in the middle of his rookie season for personal family reasons before suffering a dislocated and fractured wrist against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, an injury that required season-ending surgery.
Undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson has filled the blindside protector role for Mahomes in Simmons’ absence. Benson is expected to continue anchoring the left side, while Joshua Ezeudu steps in to start at right tackle against Seattle in place of Jaylon Moore, who remains sidelined with a concussion.
Disclaimer: The insights provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.