By Jeremy
The Kansas City Chiefs have placed left tackle Josh Simmons on injured reserve, raising concerns about his future in the NFL. This decision follows Simmons reporting a leg issue on August 17, which was later diagnosed as a bulging disc in his back. Chiefs Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance Rich Burkholder indicated that while therapy was recommended over surgery, Simmons has yet to see game action this season.
Last week, Simmons practiced in a limited capacity but was listed as a non-participant for “back/non-injury personal reasons” just days before the IR announcement. Burkholder noted that Simmons chose to consult with his family before deciding on the IR designation, which requires him to miss at least four games.
There is skepticism surrounding the team’s explanations regarding Simmons’ injury and absence. Initially expected to return by Week 1, he has not played at all this season. Head coach Andy Reid’s comments earlier this week suggested he was unaware of any plateau in Simmons’ recovery, complicating the narrative around his status. With only eight games played over two seasons and ongoing questions about his reliability, it remains uncertain whether Simmons will return to the field for Kansas City or if his time with the team is coming to an end.
The Bigger Question
Do you think this is an injury situation or something else? Josh has missed more games as a Chief than he has played. Should the Chiefs keep him on the roster and hope he improves before a playoff run or do they cut bait on the former 1st round pick?
No harm in keeping him on the roster since he’s on the IR he isn’t hogging a roster spot.
Keeping Simmons feels more like a gamble than a strategy at this point. With his injury history, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Chiefs decide to move on after the season.
I’m really worried about our offensive line depth if we keep Simmons and he doesn’t come back strong. With his track record, we can’t risk it when we need solid protection for Mahomes. Time to make some tough calls.