The Kansas City Chiefs need everybody at their best to face the second half of the season. Things won't get much easier for the Chiefs as they come out of their bye week, with a road date against the AFC West-leading Denver Broncos posing as a potential make-or-break moment in the campaign.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton's team is one of the most dangerous in the NFL when it comes to pass rushing, proven by their:
- 78.3 Pro Football Focus pass rush grade (7th)
- 4.6 sacks per game (1st)
- 12.4% sack rate (1st)
- 111 pressures (1st)
- 40 quarterback knockdowns (T-1st)
- 105 blitzes (5th)
Needless to say, with QB Patrick Mahomes being under a lot of pressure lately, both literally and figuratively, offensive tackle Josh Simmons' return couldn't have come at a better time. Although he was away from the team for a bit, it sounds like he didn't miss a step during his absence.
Josh Simmons Was a Full Participant in Practice
On Wednesday, the Kansas City Star's Pete Sweeney confirmed Simmons was a full participant during the latest practice, indicating that his personal issues are behind him. :
This is a positive sign ahead of Sunday's divisional game, as it shows that Simmons stayed in game shape and should be ready to contribute right out of the gate. Even so, head coach Andy Reid claimed that he would evaluate where he's at before making any rash decisions:
"He'll jump in and see what he can do and mix it up out there... I just want to see him back in there... I'm glad he's back and can get going. Let's see how he is... I'm sure he's going to be OK, but we'll see," Reid said on Wednesday, per Chiefs insider Charles Goldman of A to Z Sports.
Still, it's hard to envision any scenario in which Simmons won't be the starting left tackle on Sunday. Mahomes faced a season-high 18 pressures in the Week 9 loss to the Buffalo Bills. And, after giving up 12 pressures and three sacks in four weeks, it became painfully evident that veteran Jaylon Moore wasn't a long-term solution there. While Simmons boasts a 71.2 PFF pass-block grade, Moore is far behind him at 64.6.
The Broncos have nine players with at least 2.0 sacks this season, including Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper, who have combined for 17.0 sacks. The Chiefs need Mahomes to stay on his feet to win the game, making it clear that the offense needs more of what Simmons offers rather than Moore's inconsistent play.
Simmons will have his hands full, but he's the team's best bet at this point in the season. The Chiefs might need to give him a long leash as he gets back into game form, and while he may commit a mistake or two, the temporary pains will be worth it in the long run.