The Kansas City Chiefs had some time to decompress, restore their bodies, and regroup. Now, they have to approach the second half of the season with no margin for error after going 5-4 before their bye week.
The players will report to get back to practice, and for the first time in a while, it seems like Josh Simmons will be there. Talking on a Zoom call with Sports Radio 810 WHB, head coach Andy Reid confirmed the rookie tackle will be there.
Andy Reid Confirms Josh Simmons Will Return
"We're expecting everybody back, Josh (Simmons) included. So, if you were going that direction, that's the information I have for you," Reid said.
Simmons has been away from the team since right before Week 6. Nevertheless, despite his lack of experience as a pro, the Chiefs' head coach expects him to pick up the slack as soon as he takes the field again:
"I think what we'll do is just see where we're at here," Reid said. "We know we got a good player, and we know what Josh is capable of, so we'll just see where we're at when they get back."
Chiefs' Line Needs Simmons in a Bad Way
The Chiefs could use Simmons back on the field in the worst way. Blindside protection has been a major issue in recent years of the Patrick Mahomes era, and backup Jaylon Moore had a brutal outing in the loss to the Buffalo Bills. He's given up 12 pressures and three sacks in four games.
And while Mahomes' overall numbers are up over the last four weeks, he's seen a jump from 1.4 sacks per game with Simmons in the lineup to 2.5 per game without him.
The upcoming schedule won't make things easy on this offensive line either. The Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys happen to be the top three defenses in pressures this season. The Houston Texans rank No. 2 in PFF's pass rush grade. That's a full month of games before they get any respite with a matchup against the Chargers on December 14.
The rookie out of Ohio State showed glimpses of strong play in his first five games in the league, posting a 63.9 Pro Football Focus grade. And with right tackle Jawaan Taylor dealing with an ankle injury, it will be up to him to anchor the offensive line on the road against the Denver Broncos' elite pass-rush next Sunday.