The Kansas City Chiefs are surging once again, winning three of their last four games as they look to get to the top of the AFC standings. As they prepare to host the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football, however, they’ll be missing one key piece on the offensive line, rookie standout Josh Simmons.
Simmons impressed early in the season, but he hasn’t suited up since the Chiefs’ Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now, he’s officially been ruled out for the primetime matchup, raising questions about why the promising lineman remains away from the team.
Why Is Josh Simmons Not Playing for the Chiefs in Week 8?
Simmons has been away from Kansas City since Week 5, missing multiple games as he deals with a personal family matter. He was initially expected to play in Week 6 but was a late scratch after being downgraded to questionable.
The Chiefs listed his absence as “Not Injury Related – Personal,” and shortly after, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport clarified that Simmons was tending to a family issue back home in California.
Since then, the 22-year-old has missed every practice session and was ruled out early for the Chiefs’ Monday Night Football matchup against the Commanders. Head coach Andy Reid addressed Simmons’ status during a media availability on October 23, providing a brief but reassuring update.
“My update for you with Josh would just be, there’s communication,” Reid told reporters. “I’m not going to get into all of it. Everything’s positive. It’s not a negative situation. He’s taking care of family.”
When asked about a potential return date, Reid didn’t offer specifics, only emphasizing that Simmons’ priorities are currently away from football.
“He’s just taking care of business,” Reid said. “That’s the main thing right here. When you deal with this, that’s what you do. He’s been very good about communicating.”
However, according to ESPN’s Nate Taylor, Simmons is expected to rejoin the team in a few weeks, with Week 11 against the Denver Broncos, the first game after the Chiefs’ bye, being the most likely target for his return.
Simmons, the 32nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, was one of Kansas City’s most promising additions this offseason. The former Ohio State standout began his college career at San Diego State before transferring and helping the Buckeyes capture a national championship.
Simmons’ development has been closely followed by Chiefs fans, who see him as a future cornerstone of an offensive line that currently ranks third in PFSN’s Offensive Line Impact metric.
