Chiefs OT Josh Simmons kicked out of meeting by Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes before going on IR

Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Josh Simmons was reportedly removed from a team meeting by head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes before being placed on injured reserve, according to NFL Network. The incident took place on Wednesday. The next day, Simmons was officially listed on the injury report due to back and personal issues.

During the meeting, Reid asked Simmons to sit properly, but Simmons said his back and hips were bothering him and he had to sit that way. Reid then suggested Simmons seek treatment if he was indeed in pain. Mahomes also told Simmons to leave the meeting and get treatment. The 23-year-old offensive lineman left the room but remained at the Chiefs' facility.

After the meeting, Simmons apologized to Reid and the team leadership. Simmons, who was drafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, had not played this season due to a back injury. He had been practicing limited during a previous week. Despite showing improvement, Simmons was ruled out for the upcoming game. On Wednesday, he was unable to practice due to his injury, which was listed as back and personal.

The team gave Simmons a day to discuss his next steps with his family and representatives. The following day, the team placed Simmons on injured reserve, which will keep him out of the next four games as he recovers. Simmons had initially complained of a calf issue in August, which was later diagnosed as a bulging disc in his back confirmed by an MRI.

Doctors recommended rehab over surgery. When the team imaged his back after the Week 5 bye, the disc appeared better, allowing Simmons to return to practice. However, the injury continued to bother him ahead of Week 7, leading to his placement on injured reserve. Simmons was chosen by the team to protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a crucial role in football.

However, the second-year player has only played in eight games due to injuries and personal reasons. He missed several weeks as a rookie due to personal issues and suffered a fractured wrist in Week 13, resulting in him being placed on injured reserve and ending his season. With Simmons' latest injury, he is expected to be eligible to return in Week 11 at the earliest. In his absence, the Chiefs have relied on undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson at left tackle.