Josh Simmons Out Again vs Colts on SNF

Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons is out for Sunday Night Football against the Indianapolis Colts with a back injury, delaying his 2026 regular-season debut for a second straight week. Simmons missed every practice this week, and the club made the out official Friday via its injury report. Undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson is again projected to start at left tackle after filling in during the opener.

Week 1 already forced Kansas City to open without its first-round tackle against Denver. Week 2 on national TV is the same stamp. A back that will not clear a full practice week does not suddenly clear for 8:20 p.m. ET protection against an Indy front that will test the edge all night.

Benson holds the blind side

Benson's Week 1 tape was clean enough that Kansas City is comfortable rolling him again. That does not invent All-Pro form. It means the Chiefs trust the undrafted book enough to keep Patrick Mahomes' blind side settled while Simmons rehab stays on the slow track. Safety Chamarri Conner is also out with a knee injury, so the secondary is shuffling on the same report.

Fantasy rooms that stream Chiefs offensive skill should stamp the tackle situation as a protection tax, not a reason to bench the skill pieces. Do not invent a sudden scheme change just because Simmons is scratched. Mahomes still throws. Benson still blocks. The out is about the left tackle room, not a rebuilt offense overnight.

Questionable tags on Chris Jones and Mansoor Delane still need the inactive sheet before rooms lock. Simmons' out is already locked. Wait for the 90-minute list for the rest.

Simmons was the club's first-round pick to lock the left edge for a decade. Two weeks of back limitations to open the year is not the script Kansas City drew up, and it is not something fans should paper over with vibes. Benson buying another start is the practical fix. The longer the back lingers, the louder the Week 3 practice reports will get. For Sunday Night, the answer is already written. Simmons is out.

Arrowhead on Sunday Night already brings enough noise. Doing it without the first-round left tackle just stacks the protection ask on Benson and the interior. Stamp Simmons out, watch the rest of the inactive sheet, and stop inventing a different Chiefs identity for one primetime snap.

Sunday Night at Arrowhead

Colts at Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. Simmons watches. Benson starts. That is Kansas City's Week 2 line board.

Back still barking. Debut still waiting. SNF without the first-round tackle.