Josh Simmons Injury Update: Chiefs OT Ruled Out for Week 2

Josh Simmons has been ruled out of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 2 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, adding another setback to an already difficult start for the young offensive tackle. Simmons has been dealing with a back issue since training camp and has now missed preseason action, the season opener and the Chiefs’ upcoming game.

The 2025 first-round pick was expected to compete for an important role on Kansas City’s offensive line, but his availability has become a growing concern. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Simmons had reached roughly the two-week mark in his recovery and would be reevaluated, while noting that the tackle was feeling better but was not ready to play.

The injury update has also generated discussion beyond the medical side of the situation. NFL analyst Bobby Burack questioned whether Simmons’ current absence can be explained entirely by the reported back problem. His comments referenced events from Simmons’ rookie season and raised broader questions about the tackle’s availability and long-term future.

Josh Simmons Ruled Out for Chiefs vs. Colts

Kansas City will face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, September 20, but Simmons will not be available for the contest.

The offensive tackle has been dealing with a back problem since training camp. The issue already forced him to miss two preseason games before keeping him out of Kansas City’s regular-season opener against the Denver Broncos.

His absence for Week 2 means the Chiefs will again have to manage their offensive line without a player they selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Andy Reid did not provide a specific timetable for Simmons’ return. Instead, the Chiefs coach explained that Simmons was at approximately the two-week point in the recovery process and would undergo another evaluation.

“He’s at that two-week mark now,” Reid said.

Reid added that Simmons was feeling better than he had previously but was still not healthy enough to participate in the game.

Why Josh Simmons’ Absence Matters to Kansas City

Offensive tackle is one of the most important positions in front of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The tackle responsible for protecting the quarterback’s blind side can have a significant influence on how an offense operates, particularly when facing an aggressive pass rush.

That makes Simmons’ continued absence important for the Chiefs even before considering his draft status.

Kansas City invested significant draft capital in Simmons in 2025, selecting him in the first round. The expectation was that he could eventually become an important part of the team’s offensive-line plans.

Instead, his early career has been interrupted by injuries and limited availability.

That does not determine what his future will be. Young offensive linemen can have difficult starts to their careers and still develop into reliable starters. However, repeated absences naturally make availability an important part of the conversation surrounding Simmons.

What Happened During Simmons’ Rookie Season?

Simmons appeared in only eight games during his rookie campaign.

His season ended after he suffered a dislocation and fracture in his wrist during Week 13. He was subsequently placed on injured reserve in December.

The wrist injury was separate from the back issue currently keeping him out of action, making his availability a broader concern than one isolated injury.

From a team-building perspective, the Chiefs need their young offensive lineman to eventually establish continuity. Offensive-line development often benefits from consistent practice reps, game experience and time working alongside the same teammates.

Extended absences can interrupt that process.

Bobby Burack Raises Questions About Simmons’ Situation

NFL analyst Bobby Burack offered a much more skeptical interpretation of Simmons’ current situation.

Burack argued that he did not believe the reported back problem completely explained Simmons’ absence. He also referenced incidents from the previous season involving Simmons’ availability and communication with the team.

These comments are Burack’s assessment and should be distinguished from the official information provided by the Chiefs. Kansas City has publicly identified Simmons’ current issue as a back injury, while Reid has discussed his rehabilitation without announcing another explanation for the absence.

Burack also argued that the Chiefs should reconsider their long-term plans at left tackle. His comments go beyond the immediate Week 2 injury and raise a larger question about whether Kansas City should continue viewing Simmons as its long-term answer at the position.

Questions About Simmons’ Previous Availability

Burack’s comments also brought attention to events from Simmons’ rookie season that he says occurred before the current injury situation.

According to Burack, Simmons had an issue surrounding his availability before a game against the Detroit Lions. He also referenced an earlier situation involving an eye complaint during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Those claims have been presented by Burack and should not be treated as independently established facts simply because they were discussed publicly.

The important point is that the discussion has shifted from a straightforward injury update to questions about Simmons’ overall reliability and communication with the organization.

That distinction matters. An injury report can explain why a player is unavailable for a particular game, while a team’s long-term evaluation of a player can involve many additional factors, including health, preparation, performance and availability.

Back Injury Remains the Official Explanation

Despite the speculation surrounding Simmons, the clearest official information available from Kansas City remains straightforward: Simmons is dealing with a back issue and was not ready to play in Week 2.

Reid’s comments did not indicate that the Chiefs were announcing a separate disciplinary issue or another reason for Simmons’ absence.

The coach also said Simmons was feeling better, which provides at least some indication that the recovery process is progressing.

However, without a specific return date, the Chiefs cannot yet plan with certainty around when Simmons will be back on the field.

The Chiefs’ Offensive-Line Problem Goes Beyond One Game

The immediate concern is replacing Simmons for the Colts game, but the larger issue is continuity.

Kansas City has built its offense around Mahomes’ ability to create plays under pressure, but even an elite quarterback benefits from a stable offensive line. Consistent protection can help an offense maintain its preferred passing concepts, establish a running game and avoid putting the quarterback in difficult situations on every possession.

For Simmons, every missed game also means fewer opportunities to develop chemistry with the players around him.

This is especially relevant for a young offensive tackle. Experience against different pass-rushing techniques is difficult to replicate entirely in practice.

What Simmons’ Situation Means for His Long-Term Future

The biggest unanswered question is whether Simmons can eventually establish himself as a dependable long-term starter for Kansas City.

It would be premature to make a final judgment based solely on his current absence. Simmons remains a young player, and his development has been disrupted by injuries.

At the same time, the Chiefs cannot ignore availability when constructing their roster.

There is a practical difference between a player missing a short stretch because of one injury and a player repeatedly being unavailable across multiple seasons. Teams must account for both performance and reliability when deciding whether a player should occupy an important long-term role.

For Kansas City, the coming weeks could therefore provide more information than the Week 2 game alone.

Chiefs Injury Report for Week 2

Chiefs vs. Colts: What to Watch

The Chiefs and Colts are scheduled to meet on Sunday, September 20, at 8:20 p.m. ET.

With Simmons unavailable, Kansas City’s offensive-line configuration will be worth watching. The most important factor will be whether the replacement at tackle can provide enough stability for the Chiefs to operate their passing game without major disruption.

Indianapolis will also have an opportunity to test Kansas City’s protection. Any weakness on the edge can become particularly important against an opponent capable of generating pressure and forcing the quarterback to make quicker decisions.

The game could therefore provide an early indication of how Kansas City intends to handle the tackle position while Simmons recovers.

A Comparison of the Two Sides of the Simmons Debate

Why the Next Few Weeks Could Be Crucial

The next stage of Simmons’ recovery will be important because it should provide the Chiefs with more information about his ability to return and maintain consistent availability.

If he returns soon and stays healthy, the current situation could eventually become a temporary setback in the early stages of his career.

If his absence continues, however, Kansas City may have to give greater consideration to alternative plans at offensive tackle.

That does not necessarily mean the Chiefs would abandon Simmons. Teams can develop multiple options at an important position while continuing to work with a young player. But the longer a player remains unavailable, the more important those contingency plans become.

What Happens Next for Josh Simmons?

For now, the next step is another medical evaluation.

Reid has indicated that Simmons is feeling better, but the Chiefs have not provided a firm return date. Until that changes, Kansas City will have to prepare without him.

The organization must also separate the short-term medical question from the longer-term roster question. Simmons’ immediate objective is to recover sufficiently to return to football activities. The Chiefs’ objective is to determine how he fits into their offensive-line plans over the long term.

Conclusion

Josh Simmons will miss the Chiefs’ Week 2 game against the Indianapolis Colts as he continues recovering from a back issue that has already kept him out of preseason action and Kansas City’s season opener.

Andy Reid has indicated that Simmons is feeling better and will be reevaluated, but the Chiefs have not announced a timetable for his return.

The situation has attracted additional attention because NFL analyst Bobby Burack has questioned whether the back problem tells the entire story. His comments also raised concerns about Simmons’ previous availability and whether Kansas City should continue viewing him as its long-term answer at left tackle.

Those claims remain separate from the Chiefs’ official injury information. The clearest immediate fact is that Simmons is unavailable for Week 2.

The more important story will develop over the weeks ahead. If Simmons can return, stay healthy and establish consistency, he will have an opportunity to reshape the conversation around his young career. If his absence continues, Kansas City may have to explore a more permanent solution at one of the most important positions protecting Patrick Mahomes.