Ahead of play against the Detroit Lions (4-1), the Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) will be missing left tackle Josh Simmons for Week 6.
Simmons has far exceeded almost every expectation the Chiefs had for him when they selected him with the No. 32, first-round selection back in April. The 6’5″, 310-pound player missed most of last season at Ohio State after surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon, leaving fans wondering if his current absence is anything related.
Why Is Josh Simmons Not Playing for the Chiefs in Week 6?
However, this is not the case.
Simmons has been listed as inactive and ruled out due to having to travel home to California to deal with what the team is calling a family situation.
According to reports, Jaylon Moore has since slid into the starting lineup as the blind-side protector for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The Chiefs signed Moore to a two-year, $30 million contract in March.
I know there’s a report that Jaylon Moore will start in Simmons’ place, which would be preferred. However, all the evidence so far this season suggests another player is actually the backup left tackle. #ChiefsKingdom https://t.co/MaKgszzP1d
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) October 12, 2025
This latest development comes after Simmons previously earned the starting job early in camp. He’s started each of the first five games this season and has drawn positive remarks from Kansas City coach Andy Reid.
The Chiefs currently have the seventh-ranked offense on the year so far, according to PFSN’s Offense Impact metric, featuring an overall grade of a B.
Simmons is a 22-year-old Ohio State alum, and his status has since been listed as inactive on ESPN. Moore, who is 27 years old, stands at 6’4″ and weighs 311 pounds.
Moore joined the Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent this offseason, just six weeks before they drafted Simmons. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round (155th overall) of the 2021 draft.
Moore started only 12 games over his first four NFL seasons with the 49ers, backing up All-Pro Trent Williams. But the Chiefs saw enough tape last season from when he started a career-high five games.
“In my opinion, the tape doesn’t lie,” Moore had said during his introductory press conference. “I know it’s a small sample size, but I just go out there and play ball the way I know how. I don’t know, they see something in me, so I’m excited to go balls to the wall for these guys.”
Simmons has started all five games at left tackle this season and has been a quiet strength on the offensive line this season as a mere rookie. Simmons still started against the Jaguars and played the full game, then practiced in full all this past week.
This will be Moore’s starting debut in a Kansas City uniform out of Western Michigan. He will be playing against the Lions as a Detroit native.
