It's been a frustrating up-and-down season for the Kansas City Chiefs. They started 0–2 for the first time in the Mahomes era, but then won five out of six games to revive their hopes and springboard back to the top of the Super Bowl favorites list. Now they have lost two straight games again to AFC playoff competitors and likely find themselves out of the running for the AFC West and outside the playoffs altogether if the season ended today. Following their 22–19 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday, there wasn't much for Chiefs fans to be excited about, but Josh Simmons is one of them.
Simmons returned to the field on Sunday after four weeks off for personal reasons. The Chiefs’ first-round pick had a promising start to the season, but how would he perform after almost a month away from the team and going against the best pass-rushing team in the NFL? Would he physically be in game shape after being away from football? Would he mentally be able to handle jumping right back into action? Would the depth and talent of Denver's pass rushers be too much to handle?
Josh Simmons was thrown into the fire against the Broncos and proved he could handle it
Simmons might not have had a perfect game. He was flagged for a couple of penalties and gave up a few pressures, but considering the situation and opponent, it was an impressive return to action. While he made a few mistakes, Simmons looked up to the challenge. That isn't easy against a team like Denver that throws so many different pass rushers—who win in so many different ways—at you. If Simmons could hold up against them, he should be able to handle anyone else K.C. faces the rest of the way.
Just how well has Simmons handled protecting Patrick Mahomes this season? Check out this post from Arrowhead Addict's Price Carter:
Josh Simmons allowed just 2 pressures on 49 pass sets.
He held Cooper to 0 pressures on 15 snaps, & allowed 1 pressure on 13 matchups against Bonitto. He's now at a 5.4% pressure rate for the season, the 3rd-lowest among left tackles & lowest by any rookie LT since 2018..
— Price Carter (@priceacarter) November 17, 2025
This is huge for a team that had major problems in pass protection at the left tackle position last season. While the offense may not be producing at the elite levels that Chiefs fans grew accustomed to, Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes can't use their supporting cast as an excuse this season, and Simmons is a big part of why.
If the Chiefs are going to salvage this season, Patrick Mahomes has to get back to playing like Patrick Mahomes. In order for that to happen, the QB has to feel confident in the pocket and can't be scared to stand in the pocket to deliver the football. The Chiefs took a few shots down the field on Sunday, connecting on one deep ball to Tyquan Thornton (who needs more playing time), and the more Mahomes trusts his pass protection, the more he'll feel safe waiting for those throws to develop and not rush those throws.
It isn't just Simmons who has allowed limited pressures, either. While Jawaan Taylor still occasionally frustrates fans with his penalties, he has only allowed pressures on 3.4% of his pass-pro reps. That's even better than Simmons. While Simmons was out, Jaylon Moore filled in well and only allowed pressures on 6.9% of his pass-pro reps. Compare that to Kingsley Suamataia last season, who allowed pressure on 10.7% of his pass-pro reps, and Wanya Morris, who allowed one on 7.7% of his. You mix in one of the NFL's best interior offensive lines, and Patrick Mahomes has the protection he needs to succeed.
There are plenty of issues for the offense to work out, chief among them the coaching on that side of the ball. Fortunately, the left tackle play is not at the top of that problem list anymore thanks to Josh Simmons. His return against the Broncos was one of the offensive highlights of an otherwise frustrating game, and hopefully, Reid and Mahomes will trust K.C.'s improved protection and utilize it to turn this season around before it's too late.