The Kansas City Chiefs will be without rookie left tackle Josh Simmons this Sunday, and no, it’s not due to injury, at least, not the kind fans are used to hearing about.

Simmons, who’s been anchoring the blind side for Patrick Mahomes through the first part of the season, has officially been ruled out for the Chiefs’ primetime matchup this weekend. The team listed the reason simply as a “personal matter,” and aside from confirming that, head coach Andy Reid isn’t offering anything more.

“We’ll leave that to Brett Veach,” Reid told reporters this week, referring to the Chiefs’ general manager. When pressed, he added, “I’m going to stay away from that.”

And honestly, that might be the right call.

Why Josh Simmons of the Kansas City Chiefs is Missing

This situation is already drawing attention for how vague and sudden it feels. One moment, Simmons was practicing, suiting up, handling pass rushers. The next, he’s off the injury report entirely, not because he’s healthy, but because it’s not injury-related at all. According to NBC Sports, Simmons flew home to California and hasn’t been at practice this week. No one seems to know when he’ll return, or even if he’ll return this season.

That kind of radio silence, it’s rare in the NFL.

According to Larry Brown Sports, sources close to the situation have described it as “extremely serious.” That’s not something you hear unless it really is, and that wording is doing a lot of heavy lifting right now.

Of course, speculation is flying. It always does in the age of social media. Some fans assume it’s family-related. Others wonder if it’s mental health. A few even floated conspiracy theories, because, well, it’s the internet. But here’s the truth, no one outside of Simmons’ inner circle knows what’s going on, and the team’s tight-lipped approach suggests that they’re protecting his privacy, not hiding a scandal.

What makes this tougher is how important Simmons has been to the Chiefs’ offensive line. A first-round pick out of Ohio State, he came in with questions about his health, specifically a torn patellar tendon that ended his college career early. But he rehabbed hard and started this season with something to prove. And prove it he did. He’s been solid in pass protection, learning fast, handling some of the league’s top edge rushers with the kind of poise that doesn’t usually show up in rookies.

Now, the Chiefs, No. 4 in the Alternative Fix NFL Power Rankings this week, are left scrambling a bit. Backup Jaylon Moore is expected to slide into the left tackle spot, at least for now. And while Moore has experience, it’s a noticeable downgrade at one of the most critical positions in football. Protecting Mahomes’ blind side is no small ask.

Reid, for his part, says the team will adjust. They always do. The game plan might lean more heavily on quick passes and rollouts to minimize pressure, and they’ve got the offensive weapons to make that work. But with this much uncertainty surrounding Simmons, the short-term fix might not be enough.

What Happens Next?

The real question is what happens next.

If Simmons’ absence extends beyond this week, the Chiefs could be forced to place him on the reserve/non-football injury list. That would mean he’d miss at least four games. There’s also the human element, how is he doing? Is he okay? Will he be back this season? Next season? At all?

And here’s where we have to talk, person to person.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in football storylines, who’s playing, who’s not, what it means for the Super Bowl run. But every now and then, a situation comes along that reminds us these athletes are human. Simmons is 21 years old. Just a few months ago, he was graduating from college. Now he’s starting for a Super Bowl contender, or was, until this week.

Something serious has clearly happened. And while curiosity is natural, empathy is essential. Not every absence needs to be explained. Not every private moment deserves to be dissected on talk radio.

Patrick Mahomes said it best this week, “I’m going to keep those conversations between us,” he told reporters, showing support without overstepping.

For what it’s worth, the Chiefs’ handling of this has been, well, kind. They’re not throwing Simmons under the bus. They’re not giving cryptic answers or fueling drama. They’re just… backing off. Respecting boundaries. And that feels like a rare thing in this league sometimes.

Whether Simmons returns next week or next year, the priority should be his well-being. Yes, the Chiefs will miss him on the field. Yes, his absence changes how they’ll play on Sunday. But for now, the story isn’t about football. It’s about life showing up in the middle of a season, uninvited, unexpected, and unavoidable.

And when that happens, even in the NFL, the game has to take a backseat.