Nate Taylor Sep 30, 2026, 02:19 PM ET

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons, the 2025 first-round pick, has not practiced since Aug. 17 due to a lower back injury. Coach Andy Reid revealed Wednesday that Simmons is recovering from a bulging disk, which has hindered the strength of his leg. Reid said Simmons is making progress and the team believes he will avoid surgery. Simmons is not expected to play Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Since being drafted, Simmons has missed 12 games and played in eight. Last season, he missed four games for a family situation and later suffered a season-ending dislocated and fractured left wrist on Thanksgiving against the Dallas Cowboys. This year, undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson has started in his absence. Despite the Chiefs' 3-0 record after beating the Miami Dolphins, Benson struggled against defensive ends Josh Uche and Chop Robinson, allowing Mahomes to be hit a season-high five times.

The Chiefs are hopeful Simmons can return after their bye week to play Oct. 18 against the Los Angeles Chargers. When on the field last season, Simmons allowed a pressure rate of just 6.6%, the third-lowest among left tackles and second-lowest by a rookie since 2018 (min. 150 pass blocks), per Next Gen Stats. Mahomes said of Simmons, "He's putting in the work, whatever it takes to get on the field as quickly as possible."