Chiefs to place left tackle Josh Simmons on injured reserve with bulging disc

2025 first-round pick plateaued in his rehab process

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 30m1 min read

#Chiefs head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder tells reporters that LT Josh Simmons (bulging disc) is going to be placed Via @RapSheet on X

What happened: Kansas City Chiefs head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder announced Thursday that left tackle Josh Simmons will be placed on injured reserve with a bulging disc in his lower back. Speaking to reporters via Nate Taylor, Burkholder said Simmons worked diligently every day before his recovery plateaued during the rehabilitation process.

Why it matters: Placing the 32nd-overall pick from the 2025 NFL Draft on injured reserve formalizes an extended absence on the Kansas City offensive line after earlier game absences this season. The move leaves the Chiefs without a first-round tackle as the front office approaches the league's Nov. 10 in-season trade cutoff.

By the numbers: Simmons missed practice ahead of the season opener on Sept. 11 and was ruled out on Sept. 26 and Oct. 2 prior to Thursday's Oct. 22 injured reserve designation.

What to watch: Kansas City will adjust its left tackle rotation for upcoming 2026 regular-season games while Simmons continues his rehabilitation program on injured reserve.

Sources

@RapSheet 2026-10-22T17:01:15.318468+00:00

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