# Chiefs set to use undrafted rookie with LT Josh Simmons out

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-09-13 00:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
The Kansas City Chiefs face a critical offensive line void for their season opener as left tackle Josh Simmons is ruled out.

## Intelligence Brief
The Kansas City Chiefs are entering their season opener facing significant injuries to their offensive line. According to reports from NBC Sports and Arrowhead Pride, left tackle Josh Simmons has been officially ruled out for the team's Monday night game. Coach Andy Reid has declared both Josh Simmons and Chamarri Conner as out for the opening contest of the season. Coverage from ESPN and sports.yahoo.com emphasizes the immediate personnel shift required by the organization. With Josh Simmons unavailable, the Chiefs are set to use an undrafted rookie at the left tackle position.


ESPN reports that the team is prepared to utilize this rookie to fill the gap left by Simmons. The decision to start an undrafted player at a position tasked with protecting the quarterback is the central focus of current reporting across these major sports networks, as the team navigates these late-breaking injury designations ahead of Monday night. This roster instability coincides with a high-stakes return for the team's offensive leader. According to sports.yahoo.com, this game marks the return of Patrick Mahomes, who is coming back from a torn ACL. The context of Mahomes' recovery adds pressure to the offensive line's performance, as the team must protect a quarterback returning from a major knee injury.


The combined loss of Simmons and Conner, as noted by Arrowhead Pride, creates a specific challenge for the Chiefs' front five during this specific transition period for the franchise. Observers will now monitor how the undrafted rookie performs in a starting role during the Monday night game. Based on the reporting from NBC Sports and ESPN, the primary focus remains on the immediate execution of the offensive line without Simmons and Conner. Future updates will likely depend on the Week 1 injury report and subsequent declarations from Andy Reid regarding the health of the tackle position. The team's ability to protect Mahomes in his first game back from the ACL injury will be the definitive metric of success for this rookie substitution.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| New York Post | Chiefs likely have to use undrafted rookie at key position as injury replacement for Week 1 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqAFBVV95cUxPYVdJUjBfcnFxOTZfX0c3VWc2QVBwZXF1QWxlVnoyYWg1YkR4eEdaYm8tUWVPRUpjLWxqTG5IdFNJZTNIaThrY1VNYWF4WWd6OF9LUXladDhoLXJfN0xial9OYXVLMFJlbzVIcW4xYmJJR3dRQldfUHV3Y3VybzFQNDVEbk9RRDZCRjZNQ1p5MGh4cDJ2M1ZQMlBGWmhPNnZ4TTI1UkJOQ2E?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Chiefs Rule out 2 Key Starters for Week 1 vs. Broncos | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigAFBVV95cUxON3JCNVdwRnZDSWFYUEJWOUVlaVV3M2p3T2NkbkUwM0NoVG5aTjlhaEhXTG9uRzgzT1A1Nm0zTGdDYmVXMTluV3pNT3FSNXhUelNhYXNGTFZta0ZXaUFEdUNaUGt0bnBaZjV2WU1nYTBzUzJwTWoxSEFxRWFaVVdKeA?oc=5) |
| NBC Sports | Josh Simmons is ruled out for the Chiefs on Monday night | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuAFBVV95cUxOd3NjbG1FYVllSVJCd3BfdUpueW04YUpudGlkNUwtSXNOTFFydkpldzIwb2o5VDZMb2JVTVljYjlWUVc3UGdRWnBlMndqanBMOGt5WndOaktwc0JRYXlmbFpWWEVtZ08xMG5jVGthbDBfdm0wU2ZweEZwcDN5UWdtTkpOZE1WZkFJWG1VdHEtSkZBc1RhR0NuU2g5NWw3NDdFTUtFOVczUS1EOGoteFNWZm5RVnJiRWlz?oc=5) |
| Arrowhead Pride | Andy Reid declares Josh Simmons, Chamarri Conner out for Chiefs’ opener | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixgFBVV95cUxQdnRHMzFJWnVxeDlXYndjcGNkY19kZTRLV3BYTjZUWERoQThIYklTc0RmZkZSeG1xQkg0a2lPZFlZSmdEVE1SMWxzSjJaZFVOR2JhcDdRblRWRVlUMFBlVmJUaGZMUkV6UXl3ajdBWVo2WktMR0lHdi01Q05wbk9JbHh3bjhNWjJNaWVuVmlCVlZDOXRmVlZ2cUw1LXRSeEVLV0dWRGlOQTZQZGNJM0xfU3FlV0FhQWZuY3A4eWZibVI0WjJzV0E?oc=5) |
| USA Today | Week 1 injury report for Chiefs | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxNQ2RBYlBnRGd2c1pXYnNhSWZUUnh0MWcwVW9SV0pDd1JsN29ucDdLZjk3YTVETXAyRnpWbDBEOXpQWEptZTdYYlJ1LXg4a05DVFFFM2lVenNuVEZaR3BVYnhrSnFsd3FYNUV2WmFtRUUxak1VZ0h3czIxdTF6c3FhenhUakUycWI5UzR3YUJSNk8tQmJMYXllNmh2dThfT0paY0hIOW15NFlBTmdzNkd4d0ZSX29TaTNtbDNxQkpKem5QUQ?oc=5) |
| sports.yahoo.com | In Patrick Mahomes' return from torn ACL, Chiefs likely to turn to undrafted rookie left tackle to start | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi6gFBVV95cUxQWk9DNHF2cUczaXpGZEhfSTIwNzZkUENSX0UxdzJtWXdCYXhSWEI3WGplZThvVVZpbjFOWlZaNTYwS0hRTzFEZ3BNNzVrUnNnYWJ4ZDJ2cDRPQVZRdndFcDdiMDYzeFFUeFVmSXlWUkRCWG8teENXUE85S0RLX285WTA3S3B4VHNDWFhFeWRoMHNPT1V4a2pZZ00yOS1KZTFfT242MWNYQlYtZzB2UUJSdFpzNXJwRFRuWVpzTEZJcHJmbngzdWVseE5CUkVVQkcwMk1oV2FYRGpWWUYyMDNWb2pKc1NOeVAzckE?oc=5) |
| ESPN | Chiefs set to use undrafted rookie with LT Josh Simmons out | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinAFBVV95cUxObEZYWk83czNiZ2puWjNfU2dpSXR0MWlCN1lZdml5OVBhdkdLal9rVjFKOG5VQklhMlJ1bm02LU80SlhRRUlOcEYzOHl5elc3S0dwRjh1eEN5SVlIaHFlcTRSenR0TlI5d3VKdUgyNzUxd2F5VjFFLWJEOEJpbmxFQjJTd3RuelFQLUdrT2VjR0V3SURnVVNKSWlOWVU?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-09-13/chiefs-set-to-use-undrafted-rookie-with-lt-josh-simmons-out*