During his Wednesday press conference ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 6 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, head coach Andy Reid shared a major injury update: left tackle Josh Simmons (Back) will return to the practice field for the first time since training camp.
Reid shared that wide receiver Rashee Rice (Hamstring) would be the only one sidelined for the first practice of this week.
“Rashee will be the only one who doesn’t go today,” Reid said during his opening statement. “Everybody
else is scheduled to do something.”
On Simmons, Reid made it clear this will be the start of working him back in.
“Just going to ease him back in,” Reid said. “Ease him into practice, so he’s going to practice, but it will be on a limited basis.”
Simmons started missing practice during the final week of training camp in August and hasn’t been on the practice fields at One Arrowhead Drive since. His back flared up in the preseason, and Reid told local media that he was dealing with bulging discs a few weeks ago.
Rookie left tackle Kahlil Benson has filled in admirably, but Simmons’ upside as a former first-round pick could elevate the offense further once he presumably returns to the starting lineup. Now, it’s about waiting to see when that will be, and how the rest of the lineup adjusts to Simmons’ return.
“I haven’t even gone there,” Reid said about what a starting lineup with Simmons would look like. “I’m just glad he’s having the chance to come back, for sure.
“When you start dealing with backs, you have to ease back in if you can get back in at all and see how he does,” Reid emphasized. “I know he’s wanting to get back out there and this is the first step of that.”
Arrowhead Pride will share the official injury report from Wednesday’s practice this afternoon.
