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Starting left tackle Josh Simmons has been away from the the Kansas City Chiefs since just a few hours before the team defeated the Detroit Lions on Oct. 12, missing the last two weeks of practice with what the team has described as a “family situation.” Details regarding his absence have been scarce, but star quarterback Patrick Mahomes made it clear Simmons has the team’s full support. “I’ll keep conversations kind of between us,” Mahomes said last week. “But I’m always praying for him. I’m praying for all my teammates, so I’m always praying for him. I’ll just keep everything else kind of private to us.” Head coach Andy Reid revealed Simmons has been “very good about communicating” during his absence as ESPN reported the talented left tackle is expected to return to the team in the coming weeks. More NFL: Chiefs to Be Without Key Offensive Starter for Multiple Weeks: Report More NFL: Kevin O’Connell Makes Major JJ McCarthy Decision After Vikings’ ‘TNF’ Loss “There’s communication, and everything is positive,” Reid said. “It’s not a negative situation, so he’s taking care of family. He’s just taking care of business. That’s the main thing. When you deal with this, that’s what you do.” As Kansas City prepares for a “Monday Night Football” showdown against the Washington Commanders, the team opted to make a notable roster move given the absence of a key starter. With Simmons out of the lineup, the team is expected to sign veteran offensive lineman Esa Pole, who was released by the New York Jets earlier this week. I’ve been told Esa Pole is returning to Kansas City and signing with the Chiefs— Jason Anderson (@J810Anderson) October 24, 2025 A former Washington State offensive lineman, Pole signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL draft, but was among the last cuts from the team before the 2025 season kicked off. New York claimed the offensive lineman off waivers before eventually releasing him on Thursday. Kansas City will face off against a Washington Commanders team playing without star quarterback Jayden Daniels after he suffered a hamstring injury against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7. The Chiefs and Commanders are slated for an 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff on Monday night with the game being broadcast on ABC and ESPN. More NFL: Bills Trade Idea Pairs Josh Allen With Explosive $85 Million Wideout
