Kansas City Chiefs Merchandise - https://kansascitychiefs-mytake.blogspot.com/p/kansas-city-chiefs-merchandise.html
Andy Reid said Wednesday that left tackle Josh Simmons would practice for the first time this season, on a limited basis, according to Arrowhead Pride. The report said Simmons has been out since training camp with a back issue, and Reid emphasized easing him back in. Wide receiver Rashee Rice was listed as the only Chiefs player not practicing Wednesday.
That makes Simmons’ return real news, but not a full green light. The important word is still limited.
My Take
I think the Chiefs should treat Simmons’ return as a roster-development win before they treat it as a lineup solution. A left tackle getting back on the field after a back issue matters, especially when the position is as important as it is in this offense. But a first limited practice after missing the season to this point should not automatically change Kansas City’s short-term plan.
The best thing Reid said, based on the report, is that the Chiefs are easing Simmons back in. That is the right approach. Back issues are not something to hand-wave away just because a player is practicing again, and there is a big difference between participating in a limited Wednesday session and being ready for a full game workload.
My read is that Kansas City should be looking for three things before asking Simmons to do too much: how he responds after practice, whether his workload increases over multiple days, and whether the staff believes he can handle live-speed pass protection without forcing help on every meaningful snap. Those are not flashy benchmarks, but they matter more than the excitement of seeing his name back on the practice field.
The fair counterargument is obvious: if Simmons is healthy enough to practice, and he plays left tackle, the Chiefs should start accelerating the process because tackle stability is always valuable around Patrick Mahomes. I get that. This team is trying to stack wins, and nobody wants a useful offensive lineman sitting longer than necessary.
But that argument only holds if the Chiefs know he is physically ready for the job. The supplied report tells us he is returning in a limited capacity, not that he is cleared for a major role. So my view is simple: celebrate the step, do not skip steps. The Chiefs can be encouraged by Simmons’ progress while still refusing to let need outrun readiness.
Rice being the only player not practicing is also worth noting, but it does not change the Simmons calculation. Kansas City’s offense may need answers in multiple places, yet the left tackle spot is not where impatience should drive the decision. If Simmons becomes an option soon, great. If this week is merely the start of his ramp-up, that is still progress.
The Chiefs do not need to turn one limited practice into a declaration. They need Simmons healthy enough to help when it actually counts.
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