Things aren’t all bad for the Kansas City Chiefs after this past Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills.
A perplexing, albeit personal dilemma has left the Chiefs’ offense operating without the services of starting left tackle Josh Simmons, but that appears to be in the rearview mirror.
Rookie First-Round Pick Returns to the Chiefs’ Facility
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Simmons, the No. 32 overall pick, returned to the team facility on Monday. He had been absent for hours before the Chiefs’ Oct. 12 meeting with the Detroit Lions when it was revealed that Simmons had to fly to California to tend to a personal matter.
Sources: #Chiefs rookie LT Josh Simmons has returned to the team facility after missing the last four games to tend to a personal family matter.
Simmons started the first five games of the season and was outstanding. His return is a huge boost for Kansas City. pic.twitter.com/2KrsY5miLy
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) November 3, 2025
Simmons, who had started the Chiefs’ first five games at left tackle, was excused by the Chiefs. He’s missed their last four games, but now returns just in time for their bye week. The coaching staff will try to ramp him up in preparation for a return; the next time the Chiefs take the field will be on the road against AFC West rival Denver Broncos on Nov. 16.
In Simmons’ stead has been Jaylon Moore, who joined the Chiefs over the offseason via a two-year, $30 million deal. $21.24 million in that deal was guaranteed, positioning Moore to protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ blindside for 2025 and beyond. However, just a month later, the Chiefs spent a first-round pick on Simmons, creating a champagne problem at left tackle.
How Have the Chiefs Managed to Stay Strong Without Josh Simmons?
A regular-season loss to the Bills is less-than-ideal for the Chiefs, but that was the only defeat that they suffered without Simmons in the lineup. They’ve still managed to go 3-1 in their last four games, and the offense has averaged 27.5 points per game as well.
Plugging Moore in place of Simmons didn’t prove to be much of an obstruction for Mahomes. Before Sunday, an argument could be made that he was the league’s hottest quarterback. He completed more than 73% of his passes in three consecutive games. He threw nine touchdowns to just two interceptions in that span, including back-to-back games with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Mahomes had his worst outing of the year in Buffalo, completing 44.1% of his passes for 250 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. The 57.2 passer rating that he registered was his lowest of the season, and he was sacked three times, tying his single-game high in 2025.
Perhaps returning Simmons to the lineup could do wonders for Mahomes and catalyze the Chiefs’ forward momentum into the second half of the season. One of the most underrated qualities of an offensive line is continuity.