With less than a week away from the Kansas City Chiefs' season opener versus the Denver Broncos at home in Arrowhead Stadium, head coach Andy Reid spoke to the media and updated player availability ahead of game action.
The biggest takeaway, obviously, and one that Chiefs fans have been clamoring for answers on, is second-year left tackle Josh Simmons and what exactly is the extent of a somewhat mysterious back injury that has plagued the 23-year-old for weeks now.
"There's a good chance Josh doesn't play this week," Reid said. "So we have that in our mind. He's got an issue there that he's working through, and I'm not putting any time strain on when he can be back or when he can practice. Want to make sure he's healthy and okay to go."
Reid, as always, did a good job of saying a lot without saying really anything of substance. The true master of coach speak. But the fact that he outright said that he doesn't expect Simmons to suit up on Monday, nearly a week before kickoff tells you that it may be a little bit before we see Pro-Bowl level play protecting Patrick Mahomes' blindside.
Reid also mentioned that for fourth-year do-it-all defensive back Chamarri Conner to play "would be a stretch," indicating that the Chiefs' already young secondary will be further tested next Monday night.
Both Josh Simmons and Chamarri Conner not slated to play in Kansas City's season opener in Arrowhead
The fix to replace Conner's production may not be one-for-one, but the Chiefs can mix and match personnel in the secondary, as Steve Spagnuolo has never shied away from. Alohi Gilman will be the leader on the back end, as Jaden Hicks should see increased time; Chris Roland-Wallace could see more reps at safety than nickel corner. And keep an eye out for rookie UDFA Xavier Nwankpa to get some run as well.
The fix to replace Simmons? Not so easy. While the Chiefs recently traded for left tackle Diego Pounds from the Baltimore Ravens, Reid denied the idea of the rookie starting, having just become acclimated to the system.
As for veteran Jaylon Moore, who played well at left tackle in spurts last year for the Chiefs, it seems he'll be slated to man the right side as intended, had Simmons played anyway. And it'll be another rookie UDFA, Kahlil Benson, who gets the nod.
"We're comfortable with Kahlil on either side," Reid said. "He's been playing on the left side, so feel comfortable with that. We'll end up playing the five best guys, and right now he's one of them."
Benson played just six snaps at left tackle in the preseason, and it did not look good. Throughout training camp, he and Moore had been in a dogfight for the starting right tackle job, and it seems within the final week or so leading up to the Denver game, Moore's experience won him the job.
Benson played all of his college career and the majority of his high school days on the right side. So, to force the youngster into a role of such high importance when he has so little experience is a baffling conclusion by Reid. Not to mention, the Chiefs' most important commodity, Patrick Mahomes, is coming off a torn ACL.
Benson will see a fair share of star pass-rusher Nik Bonitto in the game, which scares me and many other Chiefs fans to our core. But the hope for KC's offensive game plan is that the elite interior three of the Chiefs' offensive line create running holes for Kenneth Walker, making it easier for Reid to rely on the run game.
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