Chiefs Decision on Josh Simmons Fate Expected Before Raiders Game
The mysterious absence of first-round draft pick Josh Simmons from the Kansas City Chiefs will apparently continue into a second week, after the rookie offensive lineman was ruled out of Sunday’s home game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
While the Chiefs have given no indication of a timeline for Simmons’ return after leaving the team on what coach Andy Reid called a “personal” situation, the team will need to make a decision on how to handle the 22-year-old’s absence in a formal capacity, likely before kickoff in the Raiders game.
That decision would give the first tangible clue as to how long the Chiefs believe Simmons will need to resolve whatever issue led to his leaving the team.
Veach Must Make NFI Decision on Simmons
Public details of what exactly Simmons is dealing with have been essentially non-existent. If Reid and the Chiefs players know the reasons for behind the rookie’s departure prior to last Sunday night’s matchup against the Detroit Lions, they are not saying.
The team’s desire to maintain Simmons’ privacy is certainly understandable, but the Chiefs also have a football team to operate, and as long as Simmons is gone the Chiefs are playing shorthanded, unable to fill his roster spot.
That means general manager Brett Veach — who Reid said was handling the Simmons situation — must decide whether to add his player to the NFL’s Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, a move that would render Simmons ineligible to return for four games from the time his name is added to the list.
“If it will be an extended absence for Simmons, Veach could consider placing him on the league’s NFI list,” wrote Kansas City Star Chiefs correspondent Pete Sweeney on Friday. “The move would open up a roster spot, which Kansas City could use to elevate tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick from the practice squad — or sign a free agent.”
Move Will Indicate Duration of Simmons’ Absence
“Look for the Chiefs to send their first real message on the Josh Simmons situation this afternoon,” wrote Outkick reporter Bobby Burack on Saturday morning. “If the team believes he will out a while, today would be the day to put him on NFI. If they don’t put him on NFI, it’d suggest they think he could return shortly.”
As of 8 p.m. Central Time, however, the Chiefs had not announced any formal move to add Simmons to the NFI list. Nor had they said anything about a decision to keep him off the list.
Because they have already ruled Simmons out for Sunday, adding him to the list prior to the game would allow the team to face the Raiders with a full 53-man roster.
But it would also mean that they would definitely be without Simmons’ services against the Washington Commanders, Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos as well, the Chiefs’ upcoming three opponents.
Jaylon Moore Pressed Into Service
If they do not add him to the NFI list, that could be an indication that they expect Simmons to resolve his “personal” situation soon, and are willing to do without him for this week in expectation that he will be back potentially prior to the October 27 Monday Night Football game against Washington.
In the offseason, the Chiefs signed fifth-year veteran lineman Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million free agenct contract, but Simmons quickly surpassed Moore and earned the majority of playing time at the left tackle position.
But Moore was pressed into service against the Lions, and presumably will get the start Sunday against Las Vegas as well.
Commanders Trade Pitch Lands $70 Million Former First Round Pick
The Washington Commanders found out pretty quickly this season what kind of team they’d be without their best 2 players in quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who have both already missed multiple games due to injuries.
While it’s not clear when McLaurin is going to be able to come back from a quad/hip flexor injury that will see him miss a fourth consecutive game in Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys, Daniels missed 2 games in which the Commanders went 1-1, but has gone 1-1 since returning in Week 5.
While Daniels began looking like his old self in a Week 6 loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, one thing he’s in desperate need of is more weapons at the skill positions — something the Commanders could fix with a trade.
CBS Sports NFL reporter Garrett Podell’s recent trade pitch would bring the Commanders another Pro Bowl tight end in Cleveland Browns star and former first round pick David Njoku alongside 35-year-old Commanders tight end Zach Ertz.
“Fortunately for the Commanders, the Browns are 1-5, and their leader in catches (28) and receiving yards (254) happens to be rookie third-round pick tight end Harold Fannin Jr.,” Podell wrote on October 15. “That makes tight end David Njoku, who is set to become a free agent next offseason, expendable for the rebuilding Browns. Washington should do what it takes to get the former Pro Bowl tight end added to Daniels’ arsenal in order to salvage its 2025 season.”
What the Commanders give up for Njokun in a speculative trade is where the real debate begins — a 2026 or 2027 fourth or fifth round pick might be a good starting point.
Dominant NFL Tight End on Terrible Teams
Njoku, 6-foot-4 and 246 pounds, only played 2 seasons at the University of Miami and left school early for the NFL after putting up 43 receptions for 698 yards and 8 touchdowns in 12 games in 2016.
The Browns selected Njoku at No. 29 overall in the 2017 NFL draft — one of 3 tight ends picked in the first round. Njoku became a full time starter in his second season with 56 receptions for 639 yards and 4 touchdowns. He battled injuries in 2019 and 2020, missing 16 games, but bounced back in 2021 with 36 receptions for 375 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Njoku has had at least 50 receptions, 500 yards and 4 touchdowns in each of the last 3 years and had a career year in 2023 with 81 receptions for 882 yards and 6 touchdowns while earning his only Pro Bowl nod.
While Njoku has gotten super duper paid by the Browns — he’ll have approximately $70.4 million in career earnings after 2025 — what that money hasn’t bought is wins.
In 8 NFL seasons with Njoku, the Browns have had just 2 winning seasons — also their only 2 playoff appearances in that stretch — and even went winless in 2017 with an 0-16 record.
Commanders Might Sweeten Pot With Sinnott
Depending how serious the Commanders think they are about being Super Bowl contenders in 2025, they might sweeten the pot for Njoku with offering up either veteran tight end John Bates or tight end and 2024 second round pick Ben Sinnott.
Bates is an elite blocker and could instantly help the Browns rushing attack. Sinnott could be a great backup option behind Fannin moving forward.
