The Kansas City Chiefs enter their Week 7 "Sunday Night Football" matchup against the Seattle Seahawks undefeated.
But not all is cheery for the 5-0 squad, with starting left tackle Josh Simmons on injured reserve for a lingering back injury and an NFL Network report that the 2025 first-round pick was asked to leave a team meeting by head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
According to the report, Simmons – who has not yet appeared in a game this season – was sitting with his feet up during an offensive team meeting. Reid asked him to put his feet down, per the report, and Simmons replied that he had to sit in that manner because of back discomfort. Reid then told Simmons to seek treatment if he was in pain, according to witnesses
cited in the NFL Network report, and when Simmons protested more, Mahomes also spoke up.
Simmons later apologized to Reid and team leaders, per NFL Network. He was placed on injured reserve Thursday, Oct. 22, with Chiefs vice president of sports medicine and performance and head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder telling reporters that Simmons attempted to rehab a herniated, bulging disk in his lumbar spine – which caused the calf discomfort he felt during camp – before a lack of progress encouraged the medical team to shut him down again.
The Chiefs placed Simmons on injured reserve Thursday. The earliest he can return is Nov. 22 for Kansas City's Week 11 contest against the Arizona Cardinals.
Simmons played in eight of 17 games last season. He was out from Weeks 6-9 due to personal reasons involving his family. The 23-year-old returned for two games before suffering a dislocated and broken wrist against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving.
The Chiefs have deployed undrafted rookie Khalil Benson at left tackle in Simmons' absence.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes asked Chiefs lineman to leave team meeting: Report
