The Kansas City Chiefs open up their revenge tour on Friday night when they battle the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil. While there are many familiar storylines as the Chiefs look to get back to the top of the NFL’s mountain and bring another Lombardi Trophy to Kansas City, they also have some new ones, including the acclimation of offensive tackle Josh Simmons.
Simmons has done well for himself, recovering from a torn patellar tendon to claim the starting left tackle job during training camp. While earning the Week 1 start is an accomplishment, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is still pushing the rookie as he enters his first game in the NFL.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid on LT Josh Simmons: "He has the honor of going against some good defensive ends this week. I anticipate him stepping up and rising to that challenge."
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) September 4, 2025
Andy Reid Bullish on Chiefs Rookie Josh Simmons Entering Week 1
Reid was asked about Simmons while speaking to reporters on Thursday morning and sounded bullish on the rookie’s opportunity this week. While there is some excitement surrounding Simmons’s first start, he also acknowledged that he’ll have a tall task going up against Chargers edge rushers Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu.
“He has the honor of going against some good defensive ends this week,” Reid said via Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports. “I anticipate him stepping up and rising to that challenge.”
Mack and Tuipulotu should give Simmons quite the introduction to the NFL. Mack is a nine-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro who racked up six sacks and 49 quarterback pressures in 16 games last season. The 34-year-old is also one of the most feared pass-rushers of all time and is two years removed from a 17-sack campaign with the Chargers. Tuipulotu is also coming into his own as a pass-rusher, registering a career-high 8.5 sacks last season.
With two threats coming at Patrick Mahomes, Simmons has the chance to do the job he was chosen for. A 6-foot-5, 310-pound tackle, Simmons was projected as a potential top-10 pick before his injury in his final year with the Buckeyes. He also allowed a 3.7% pressure rate during his collegiate career and didn’t allow a sack in 573 pass-blocking snaps after transferring from San Diego State in 2022.
That resume was enough for Mahomes to give an immediate endorsement after Simmons was taken with the 32nd overall pick and gives the rookie a chance to make an instant impression in his first regular season game.