Standout Rookie Josh Simmons Tries to Balance Chiefs’ Progress and “Hurt”

One of the most spirited young faces at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Josh Simmons, did everything he could to balance a sense of progress with the sting of another razor-thin Kansas City Chiefs defeat.

Simmons — the rookie left tackle expected to be the long-term answer on the blindside — became a quiet anchor for a more rhythmic offensive day from the Chiefs, even if the ending was a loss that hushed Arrowhead. In a position that’s usually “invisible” to the cameras, Simmons left his mark with sturdy pass sets on two pivotal late drives, keeping the left edge clean so Patrick Mahomes could let it rip. But when the final whistle blew, the feeling that lingered was regret.

“Everybody knows it hurts. It really hurts,” Simmons  said after the game. “But we just identified the things we can do better. The season is long — it’s only two games — we have plenty of time to turn it around. We have to keep going, snap by snap.”

The slim consolation for Simmons was that he helped power two of the Chiefs’ brightest possessions of the day: one long march past midfield thanks to a firm blindside, and one all-out chase after a turnover to deny the opponent an easy six. Those moments showcased the strength, burst, and resolve of a young left tackle just crossing the threshold into the NFL.

“Pat told the huddle, ‘Just one more drive. Everybody win your rep.’ I told myself: okay, this is my job,” Simmons recalled of the nerve-tight final minutes. “I didn’t think the game was over until the very last second.”

Of course, the Chiefs didn’t lose because of a single snap. The day was a string of missed chances: a few drops, choppy play-calling rhythm, and — above all — penalties that yanked promising drives off track.

“We had explosive plays, got into the red zone, put ourselves in position to score,” Simmons said. “But false starts, holdings… mistakes like that pulled us back. You can’t win if you keep shooting yourself in the foot.”

In the locker room, Simmons reaffirmed his support for both the offensive line and the receivers — groups that absorbed heavy criticism after the 0–2 start. He believes a focused week of preparation, plus discipline from the very first snap, will quiet the noise around the team.

“I see a resilient team,” Simmons  said. “Prepare hard, keep the same mindset, lift each other up — that’s the only way. We know we can be much better. I’ll follow the vets and handle my job.”

The chance to make amends comes immediately, with Sunday Night Football against the New York Giants — another 0–2 foe that just flashed some offensive firepower. For Simmons, it’s one more night to balance progress and hurt — and if the blindside holds, hope will find its way back to Arrowhead.