Chiefs HC Andy Reid gives no clear answers about rookie LT Josh Simmons’ availability for Week 7 vs. Raiders
Chiefs HC Andy Reid seems to be dodging questions about whether or not Josh Simmons will return to play in Week 7 vs. the Raiders.
The Kansas City Chiefs might go another week without their starting left tackle after Josh Simmons missed the Week 6 win over the Detroit Lions for personal reasons. When Chiefs HC Andy Reid spoke about the situation following the game, he didn’t speculate or seem to know precisely when Simmons would return to the team.
“We’ll see when he’s (Josh Simmons) back,” Reid said following the win. “He’s got to take care of that, then we’ll see where it goes from there. But we were aware of it, yeah.”
Jaylon Moore filled in admirably for Simmons on short notice for Sunday night’s game, and it sounds as if he could be called upon again for Raiders week. Reid followed up on the whole situation with media members to kick off his Zoom press conference on Monday.
“As far as Josh’s (Simmons) situation goes, it’s a personal issue,” Reid said on Monday. “I’m not going to talk about that; I did a little bit last night (and) then leave it at that. But I thought Jaylon (Moore) stepped in and did a nice job there. As I mentioned, it’s a tribute to (Offensive Line Coach) Andy Heck and the way he rotates all of his guys and makes sure that they can play. Jaylon has played in a couple of different spots, both sides of the tackle, both sides at the guard, so he’s busy during practice, hitting all of these things.”
Asked when he anticipates Simmons rejoining the team, Reid gave an answer that didn’t provide much clarity.
“Just to take care of business,” Reid said. “That’s how those things work.”
Essentially, it seems to be a wait-and-see approach with Simmons as he deals with a rather serious family matter. Obviously, there’s still plenty of time for him to make his return before the Week 7 game, but they’re giving him all the space and time he needs to be there for his family.
Jaylon Moore proved that he has what it takes to go against Raiders DE Maxx Crosby in Week 7
Jaylon Moore earned a lot of trust from his teammates and the coaching staff in the Week 6 win over the Lions. He was recognized in Andy Reid’s postgame locker room speech and recognized again by his head coach when he spoke with media members on Monday.
“I thought he was just solid,” Reid said. “He (Jaylon Moore) did a nice job. He was going against an all-pro player 50% of the time, so that’s a tough ask without play time. But he handled it. I love the way he handles himself during the week and how he practices fast and aggressive during the week, and he never hangs his head that I’m not playing or this or that, he just gets in there and bears down. So, I think that paid off for him once this thing happened. He was solid in the run game, too, run and pass. He had a productive day.”
Sunday night wasn’t flawless for Moore, who said after the game that he has plenty to work on. Moore allowed one sack and three total pressures on 40 pass-blocking snaps in Week 6 against the Lions, lining up against a verifiable star in Aidan Hutchinson on many of his snaps. It was a good enough performance that the Chiefs should have the utmost confidence in Moore’s ability to match up with Raiders DE Maxx Crosby.
Raiders DE Maxx Crosby Stats Through Six Weeks (via Stathead):
- Tackles for loss: 10 (League leader)
- Sacks: 4
- Pressures: 14
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