Chiefs rookie keeps lengthy absence shrouded in mystery

Kansas City Chiefs violative lineman Josh Simmons spoke for the archetypal clip aft stepping distant from the squad for 22 days and missing 4 games.

Simmons, 22, rejoined the squad 2 weeks agone aft helium mysteriously near the squad conscionable hours earlier the Chiefs played the Detroit Lions successful Week 6. He declined to accidental wherefore helium left. 

"I benignant of privation to support that in-house, with each owed respect," Simmons said astatine his property league connected Wednesday. "I cognize everybody wants to know, but it’s thing I privation to keep, you know, inside." 

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Kansas City Chiefs violative tackle Josh Simmons (71) walks to the tract earlier the commencement of signifier during grooming campy astatine Missouri Western State University successful St. Joseph, Missouri, connected Aug. 12, 2025. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The rookie near tackle retired of Ohio State opened his property league by thanking the Chiefs for having his backmost during his absence. 

"(It) showed however overmuch emotion this squad and metropolis has for maine and I can’t hold to springiness it backmost to them," Simmons said. 

Simmons’ archetypal crippled backmost was successful the Chiefs’ 22-19 nonaccomplishment to the Denver Broncos connected Sunday, and helium was welcomed backmost into enactment by lining up against 1 of the champion walk rushers successful the NFL, Nik Bonitto. The 2025 first-round prime said determination was a small spot of rust aft the layoff.

"A small bit, I mean (Bonitto) is an highly talented player, truthful going against that was a just invited back, but I deliberation with the teammates that I had passim that week, they helped maine up and helped brushwood that worldly off," Simmons said.

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Kansas City Chiefs halfway Creed Humphrey (52) and violative tackle Josh Simmons (71) observe a touchdown transportation by moving backmost Kareem Hunt (29) successful the 3rd 4th against the Denver Broncos astatine Empower Field astatine Mile High successful Denver, Colorado, connected Nov. 16, 2025. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

Bonnito is 3rd successful the NFL with 9.5 sacks this play but did not registry 1 against the Chiefs. 

Simmons said helium was capable to support up with his grooming distant from the squad arsenic helium had entree to the playbook and a gym.

"I was making definite I was moving out, conscionable keeping my feet live and making definite my tense strategy was woken up," Simmons said. "I was acceptable to play."

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Kansas City Chiefs violative tackle Kingsley Suamataia (76) and violative tackle Josh Simmons (71) astatine the enactment of scrimmage against the Baltimore Ravens during the crippled astatine GEHA Field astatine Arrowhead Stadium connected Sept. 29, 2025. (Denny Medley/Imagn Images)

Simmons said that teammates checked up connected him and that connection with the squad was transparent successful his clip away. 

"Being distant from the game, I was itching to get backmost and combat for (my teammates)."

The Chiefs dropped to 5-5 with their nonaccomplishment to the Broncos and bash not presently clasp a playoff position. The team’s adjacent crippled is against the AFC South-leading Indianapolis Colts (8-2) connected Sunday astatine 1 p.m. ET. 

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