Kansas City Chiefs
The offensive tackle, who was placed on the injured list a day later, had a clash with the coach over the way he was sitting during a meeting.
The offensive tackle, who was placed on the injured list a day later, had a clash with the coach over the way he was sitting during a meeting.LAPRESSE
NICOLE SOMMA
Updated
Josh Simmons was removed from a Kansas City Chiefs offensive meeting after an exchange with Andy Reid that ended with Patrick Mahomes backing the coach and asking the tackle to leave the room.
The situation occurred shortly before Kansas City placed Simmons on the injured list due to a lower back issue. The offensive lineman has had difficulty staying available because of his physical problems, a situation that has affected his involvement with the Chiefs.
Patrick Mahomes stepped in during the exchange between Simmons and Andy Reid
According to the report, Simmons was sitting with his feet up during the meeting when Reid asked him to put them down. The tackle replied that he needed to remain in that position because he was feeling discomfort in his back and hips. Faced with that explanation, the coach told him that if he was in pain, he should leave the meeting to receive treatment.
The exchange continued and began to disrupt the meeting. That was when Patrick Mahomes stepped in and backed Andy Reid's instruction: if Simmons needed to maintain that position because of his injury, he had to leave and get treatment.
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A visibly upset Simmons left the room, although he did not leave the building. Later, the tackle apologized to Reid and to the team's front office, acknowledging that he could have handled the situation better.
Simmons, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 310 pounds, is regarded within the Chiefs as a lineman with enormous potential. His combination of strength and athleticism has impressed his teammates both in practice and in games. However, his medical issues have generated frustration for both the player and the organization, which is still trying to find consistency with one of its young offensive line talents.
The physical issue that Simmons is dealing with is related to his lower back. After various medical evaluations, the team opted for a rehabilitation process instead of surgery.
His move to the injured list now forces Kansas City to once again reorganize Patrick Mahomes' protection. Simmons' absence is another setback for an offensive line that needs stability, especially at the position responsible for protecting its quarterback's blind side.