It's well known at this point that left tackle Josh Simmons, after six-plus weeks of rehabbing from a bulging disc in his back, has been placed on IR by the Kansas City Chiefs. Meaning that he will miss at least the next four weeks of the season.
Because undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson has performed admirably in Simmons' absence, out of his natural position, I might add, he has eased the pain of how poorly the situation could have turned out. Over 320 snaps on Patrick Mahomes blindside, Benson has yet to allow a sack.
Which is good; he is not getting beat quickly and consistently. Sometimes that's all you can ask of a rookie tackle. But that doesn't excuse the fact that Benson has been getting beat more often than many Chiefs fans would like to admit. He allowed seven quarterback hits and 12 pressures, while also being called for two penalties.
The Chiefs will continue to live with Benson on the left side. However, going into a tough Week 7 matchup versus the Seattle Seahawks in a raucous stadium without both starting tackles could prove to be a nightmare scenario for the Chiefs 'offense.
Josh Ezeudu will start at right tackle in place of veteran Jaylon Moore, who remains in concussion protocol
Ezeudu, who the Chiefs traded for prior to the start of the season from the New York Giants for a 2028 7th-round pick, will receive his first start with his new team in a game where he is set to face one of the better and deeper pass rushes in the league.
He has experience; that's one of the reasons the Chiefs sought Ezeudu out. His 10 starts over the course of three years were all not spectacular, but not tragic either. More middling. But Ezeudu is certainly not a starting-level player in this league. And the hope is that he'll just have to buck up for one game and get out of there without letting Mahomes take too much heat in the pocket.
But facing high-caliber edge rushers like Uchenna Nwosu, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Derick Hall will not be a cakewalk by any means. Not to mention, Seattle possesses a defensive tackle tandem on the inside who can get after the Chiefs too: Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II. The two have combined for six sacks this season.
Any good offense should be able to not miss too many beats, even with a weak link along the offensive line. But two links at your tackle position, where it could turn ugly fast, are definitely not ideal and pose a serious threat, especially with the lack of receiving weapons the Chiefs can play off of.
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