Report: Chiefs starter Josh Simmons dealing with ‘extremely serious’ personal issue
Kansas City Chiefs starting left tackle Josh Simmons missed the team’s Week 6 game against the Detroit Lions due to what was described as a personal issue, and there have since been reports that the matter is serious.
The Chiefs announced hours before their 30-17 win over the Lions on “Sunday Night Football” that Simmons was questionable for a non-injury reason. The rookie did not play in the game and has not been at practice this week. On Wednesday, Patrick Mahomes told reporters that he is “praying” for Simmons. Head coach Andy Reid had no interest in discussing the Simmons situation and directed any questions to general manager Brett Veach.
ESPN’s Nate Taylor tried to provide some more context during a Thursday appearance on 96.5 The Fan’s “Fescoe and Dusty” show.
“When Patrick Mahomes said (Thursday) that he’s praying for Josh Simmons, I think we all need to take that cue from the quarterback,” Taylor said. “I’m fearful, I guess, is probably the best way I can explain what I’ve heard, some of which I’ve tried to gather and confirm and other things that I’m still trying to pursue in terms of just having a better understanding of what Josh is going through.
“I’m just fearful because we don’t have all the details right now, and that makes the outcome, perhaps, grim. I just want people to understand that this is really difficult for Josh and I can’t imagine what he’s going through, based on what I’ve heard. Hopefully we’ll know more in the coming days.”
Hours before Kansas City’s Week 5 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Simmons was added to the injury report because of an illness. Simmons played in that game, but Taylor said he believes that injury designation was related to whatever is going on in Simmons’ personal life. The longtime Chiefs reporter also described the issue as “extremely serious.”
“Based on what I learned yesterday, I almost came away more impressed with how he’s performed over the last couple weeks before any of this became a greater situation. … This is extremely serious and if it gets resolved, hey who knows, a month from now, he could be back on the field,” Taylor said.
Simmons, a former Ohio State star, fell in the first round of the draft due to injuries and supposed concerns about his worth ethic. The Chiefs drafted him 32nd overall, and he has quickly become a quality starter at a position of need.
For now, it is unclear when or if Simmons will return.
Packers DL Duo Headlines Hefty Week 7 Injury Report
The Green Bay Packers will go into Sunday afternoon’s game against the Arizona Cardinals as seven point favorites, but they seem to very much be victims of the injury bug going around the league at this time of year.
The Packers have three players who are out for Sunday’s week 7 game, alongside a further seven who are questionable to play – almost all of whom are starters or significant role players – as reported by The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman.
Christian Watson, Lukas Van Ness and Devonte Wyatt are OUT for Sunday against the Cardinals.
Zach Tom, Josh Jacobs, Nate Hobbs, Dontayvion Wicks, Anthony Belton, Brandon McManus and Jacob Monk are QUESTIONABLE.
Jacobs was upgraded to full participation but added a calf injury.
Packers Will Be Missing Multiple Defensive Linemen In Week 7
“Christian Watson, Lukas Van Ness and Devonte Wyatt are OUT for Sunday against the Cardinals.” Schneidman wrote on Friday.
“Zach Tom, Josh Jacobs, Nate Hobbs, Dontayvion Wicks, Anthony Belton, Brandon McManus and Jacob Monk are QUESTIONABLE.
Jacobs was upgraded to full participation but added a calf injury. Hobbs added to the report with a knee injury and was limited.”
Some of those injuries have been mainstays for the organization for the past few weeks: Tom is working his way back from an oblique tear suffered early on in the season, and Watson is slowly coming closer and closer to his return from a horrific knee injury suffered in early January, since being activated off of injured reserve.
But others are more new developments, like Van Ness’ foot injury that occurred in last weekend’s victory against Cincinnati.
