A Week 6 win for the Kansas City Chiefs to improve to 5-0 on the season was all fans could have hoped for after a tumultuous 2025 campaign. Both sides of the ball look faster, more explosive, possessing a ceiling that has not yet been met.
However, one area of constant weakness this year has revolved around the offensive tackle situation. Josh Simmons, the Chiefs' supposed starting left tackle, has been out for nearly two months with a back injury. He returned to practice this past week in hopes that a two-week ramp-up period will be enough for him to play against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football.
His return could certainly have come at a more opportune time, but nonetheless, he's back and seemingly ready for action. Which is more impactful than many think, not just because he truly has All-Pro potential and flashed it in his eight games as a rookie last year. But because during the Chiefs' Week 5 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, starting right tackle Jaylon Moore suffered a concussion and will likely be sidelined for a couple of weeks.
Kansas City is now faced with dilemmas along the offensive line and questions surrounding the revolving door at tackle
With Moore likely sidelined for the foreseeable future, it stands to reason the Chiefs will push for Simmons to return in Week 7. Which makes sense. He is practicing now and is badly needed for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson has done more than an admirable job filling in at Simmons stead at Mahomes' blindside. But over the last couple of games, teams have started to get a read on how he plays, and Benson is now losing reps with a tad more consistency and quicker than before.
It would stand to reason that while it may seem like a difficult dilemma, the fix is actually quite easy. Simmons returns to his rightful spot on the left side of the line, and Benson slides over to the right side. The side of the line that he played really well throughout college.
For the Chiefs, Week 7 may be the first look they get at what the long-term future of the offensive line could look like. Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, and Kingsley Suamataia are clear locks for the next few years at their respective positions on the interior.
And with Simmons and Benson both on cheap rookie contracts, it stands to reason Kansas City looks to continue to laud them as the bookend protectors for the rest of Mahomes' career.
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