The Kansas City Chiefs used their first-round pick on left tackle Josh Simmons, who was off to a promising start before suddenly stopping attendance at games. Simmons has missed the team’s last three contests—all victories—due to undisclosed family issues. Head coach Andy Reid provided limited clarification on the situation last week, while Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated offered the most recent update on Simmons’ status in his Tuesday column.
According to Breer, the issue first arose just before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Simmons played in that matchup but left right before the following game against the Detroit Lions. The family-related nature of his absence is genuine and was known to teams during the pre-draft process.
### Josh Simmons Likely to Return to Chiefs Soon
Breer’s report implies that Simmons could make his return as early as next week against the Buffalo Bills. However, ESPN’s Nate Davis offers a more cautious outlook, predicting the tackle may return during Kansas City’s bye week the following week. Writing on October 24, Davis noted, “A logical time for Simmons to return to the Chiefs could be in early November during the team’s bye week.”
### Chiefs’ Recent Success Without Simmons
Even in Simmons’ absence, the Chiefs have remained highly successful. The team has won three consecutive games and five out of six overall, including a recent “Monday Night Football” win over the Washington Commanders on October 27. Kansas City’s offense has been particularly impressive, averaging just under 31 points per game over their last five outings.
Looking ahead, after facing the Bills in Buffalo and observing their bye week, Kansas City will travel to Denver to play the Broncos before hosting the Indianapolis Colts, who currently hold the best record in the NFL at 7-1.
### Jaylon Moore Filling In Nicely for Josh Simmons
Jaylon Moore has stepped up effectively to fill the left tackle position during Simmons’ absence. The 22-year-old Ohio State product was Kansas City’s top priority in the offseason, selected to help fortify an offensive line that had been a notable weakness contributing to the team’s third consecutive Super Bowl loss in January.
The Chiefs’ recent offensive success without Simmons underscores both the depth of their roster and the impact of their offseason improvements. Fans will be eagerly watching to see when Simmons returns and how his presence further strengthens the team moving forward.
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