Chiefs Move Josh Simmons to Injured Reserve After Meeting Room Altercation

Offensive tackle Josh Simmons was placed on injured reserve Thursday due to a herniated disk, one day after being dismissed from a team meeting.

Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Josh Simmons was placed on injured reserve Thursday due to a bulging, herniated disk in his lower back. The roster move followed a Wednesday incident where head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes told Simmons to leave an offensive meeting. According to sources cited by NFL Network, the confrontation began when Reid asked the 2025 first-round pick to take his feet off a chair; Simmons refused, citing hip and back pain, which led Mahomes to echo Reid's instruction for the tackle to exit the room and seek medical treatment.

Simmons, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 310 pounds, later apologized to Reid and team leadership for his handling of the exchange. While he missed Wednesday's practice for what was initially labeled as a personal matter, Chiefs vice president of sports medicine and performance Rick Burkholder clarified the time was granted for Simmons to consult his family regarding rehabilitation. The tackle has appeared in only eight of 22 possible games since being drafted, having previously missed time for a fractured wrist and other personal reasons.

Because of the injured reserve designation, Simmons must miss a minimum of four games, including Sunday night’s matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. He is ineligible to return until at least Week 11, when Kansas City faces the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 22. With Simmons sidelined and veteran Jaylon Moore ruled out due to a concussion, Joshua Ezeudu is slated to start at right tackle against Seattle, while undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson continues as the starting left tackle.