The ongoing saga of Josh Simmons’ largely unexplained absence from the Kanas City Chiefs, the team that used its first-round draft pick on him this year, continued on Saturday with the 22-year-old offensive lineman facing to show up for practice once again, according to Kansas City Star beat reporter Pete Sweeney.
It came as no surprise whatsoever, then, that when the Chiefs issued their latest injury report for their Monday Night Football matchup against the Washington Commanders at GEHA Field At Arrowhead Stadium, Simmons was ruled out. The former Ohio State national champion will not play for the third consecutive week.
So when will Simmons, who on Thursday was said by coach Andy Reid to be “taking care of family” and “taking care of business,” be back in the red-and-white?
Target For Return After Bye Week
According to Chiefs insider Jesse Newell of The Athletic â and formerly of the Star â in a report published on Thursday, there is a “natural” date for Simmons’ comeback with the team â November 16.
“The Chiefs play at home against the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football before traveling to face the Buffalo Bills next week,” Newell wrote in his Athletic report. “The bye week is after that, and coming back before a November 16 road game at Denver could be a natural target date, given how the teamâs schedule falls.”
Newell’s report lines up with a separate revelation Friday by ESPN’s Chiefs reporter Nate Taylor, who stated that his sources have told him that Simmons will return “in a few weeks.”
“A logical time for Simmons to return to the Chiefs could be in early November during the team’s bye week,” Taylor wrote.
In other words, the rookie tackle would be back on he field on November 16, when the Chiefs travel to the Mile High City to take on the Broncos.
Broncos Game a Pivotal Moment for Chiefs
That game could prove a crucial moment in the Chiefs’ season, as well as for the Broncos.
Denver, heading into its Week Eight matchup at home against the Dallas Cowboys, sits atop the AFC West division at 5-2. The Chiefs remain in third place at 4-3, after the Los Angeles Chargers blew past the Minnesota Vikings, 37-10, to open Week 8 on Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football. Los Angeles raised its record to 5-3.
Following the Monday Night game against a struggling and shorthanded Washington team, the Chiefs travel to Buffalo to face the Bills who have defeated them in four straight regular season games.
If that trend holds, the Chiefs are likely to head into the Broncos game at 5-4. But after the Cowboys, Denver faces the 2-4 Houston Texans, followed by the 2-5 Las Vegas Raiders.
Simmons Needed For Denver Matchup
That schedule sees a good chance of the Broncos bringing a 7-3 record into the Chiefs showdown. In that scenario a Chiefs loss could effectively end their quest for a 10th straight division title â or at the very least make that goal quite a long shot â and could even put the team’s playoff hopes in jeopardy.
Kansas City has not missed the postseason since 2014, Reid’s second season as coach, and with Alex Smith as the team’s starting quarterback.
“Simmons â the 32nd pick in Aprilâs NFL Draft â was excellent for the Chiefs in his first five games after earning the starting left-tackle spot in training camp,” Newell wrote. “Chiefs coaches and front-office staff members lauded Simmons for his competitiveness, willingness to learn and ability to put bad plays behind him.”
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