Chiefs Rookie Breaks Silence But Maintains Privacy
Kansas City Chiefs rookie offensive tackle Josh Simmons has broken his public silence following his mysterious 22-day absence from the team, though he deliberately avoided revealing the specific reasons behind his prolonged leave.
The first-round draft pick spoke to reporters for the first time since returning to the Chiefs organisation, maintaining that he wants to keep the details of what the team officially termed a 'family situation' completely private.
'I know everybody wants to know, but it's something I want to keep [private],' the rookie left tackle stated during Wednesday's media session. 'Obviously, family is the biggest thing Polynesians lean on. When you get in that, it just makes everything a lot better.'
The Timeline of Simmons' Absence
The unusual situation began ahead of the Chiefs' clash with the Detroit Lions, when Simmons was initially slated to play before being unexpectedly downgraded to 'out' just hours before kickoff.
His absence stretched through four consecutive games, including matches against the Las Vegas Raiders, Washington Commanders and Buffalo Bills, totalling 22 days away from the team. During this period, the 22-year-old returned to his hometown of San Diego before ultimately rejoining the practice facility on November 3.
Simmons made his return to the field last Sunday, starting in the Chiefs' narrow 22-19 loss to the Denver Broncos. This marked his first competitive appearance since October 6, ending a significant period away from professional football.
Team Support and Maintaining Fitness
Despite being away from the team's facilities, Simmons revealed he maintained his physical conditioning and study of the playbook during his unexpected four-game hiatus.
'I was making sure I was working out, just keeping my feet alive and making sure my nervous system was woken up,' Simmons explained. 'I was ready to play. The communication with the team was very transparent, especially at the end.'
The rookie expressed profound gratitude toward both the Kansas City organisation and the wider community for their support during his time away. 'I want to thank the entire Kansas City and this club for having my [back] for the time I was away from the team,' said Simmons, who firmly committed to remaining with the team for the remainder of the campaign.
He particularly appreciated his teammates' consistent support, revealing: 'I had some teammates that were always checking in on me. When you have teammates like that, it definitely [helped]... I was itching to get back and fight for them.'
Coaching Staff Backs Simmons' Return
Both head coach Andy Reid and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes maintained their support for Simmons throughout the ordeal while respecting his privacy.
'He had to take care of business, and he took care of it,' head coach Reid stated simply on Wednesday when questioned about Simmons' absence and return.
Mahomes added his endorsement of the young player's abilities and development: 'He's a great football player, and he's gotten better every week that he's played... and he will continue to get better.'
The Chiefs drafted Simmons from Ohio State with the 32nd overall pick in April's draft, hoping he would overcome a knee injury that limited his previous season and develop into the reliable blind-side protector they've sought for Mahomes.
Simmons has exceeded expectations, not only recovering quickly from his injury but demonstrating enough promise during training camp to secure the starting position early in the season. He impressed coaches and teammates alike with his rapid development during the first six weeks before his unexpected absence.
Other Team Injury Updates
In other team news from Wednesday, left guard Kingsley Suamataia remained in concussion protocol and did not practice, while wide receiver Xavier Worthy was present on the field but appeared limited after Reid confirmed he had aggravated an existing ankle injury.
More positively, running back Isiah Pacheco returned to practice wearing a brace on his right knee after missing the previous two games due to injury.
