The Kansas City Chiefs are getting a different Josh Simmons in 2026, with his Year 2 push centered around durability and consistency
Kansas City Chiefs LT Josh Simmons aims to be more consistent in Year 2. He’s working to improve his technique, but he’s also reshaped his body to withstand the rigors of the NFL game.
The Kansas City Chiefs are getting a different version of Josh Simmons during the 2026 NFL season.
The former first-round pick’s rookie season was both exciting and disappointing. Simmons recovered well from his torn left patellar tendon injury that shortened his final season at Ohio State. His proactive rehab and maintenance positioned him to win the starting left tackle job in Kansas City as a rookie in 2025.
Unfortunately, he was unable to establish a consistent rhythm due to an off-field family matter, resulting in a 4-game absence. When he returned to action, his time on the field didn’t last. Simmons suffered a season-ending wrist injury against the Dallas Cowboys in December. In total, he started just eight games during his rookie season.
Chiefs LT Josh Simmons 2025 NFL Season Stats & Facts
Simmons was the No. 32 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Ohio State.
- Pressures: 18
- Sacks: 2
- Penalties: 8 (2 declined/offsetting)
It’s very apparent in his first meeting with media members that Simmons has put in the work this offseason. The team is not getting the same version of him in 2026, but rather a version who is striving to be the best he can be physically and mentally.
Chiefs LT Josh Simmons is chasing consistency in Year 2 as he transforms his body to withstand the rigors of the NFL game
Asked to evaluate his rookie season, Simmons pointed to the one thing that stands out most to him.
“I would say consistency,” Simmons told reporters. “I wasn’t as consistent as I wanted to be. I think a lot of people could see that, so that’s probably something that I’m hammering right now.”
What exactly is he looking to get more consistent with? He mentioned he wanted his technique, hand placement, and more to be uniform from rep to rep. But it’s apparent this is about more than just refining his game.
Just looking at Simmons, you can tell that he’s been in the weight room all offseason long. The second-year left tackle looks like he could be shaped from clay. He looked more like an edge rusher as he stood at the podium on Tuesday.
“I mean, it was kind of a side effect of just kind of working out every day,” Simmons said. “I’m just trying to get stronger.”
Simmons was listed at 310 pounds on the Chiefs’ roster last season. As we sit here in June, he’s 20-25 pounds lighter. He has aims to add more mass onto his frame ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
“I’m around 285-290,” Simmons said. “I want to be (300) flat when I take the first snaps.”
At the end of the day, the hope is that the added strength will allow him to reach his ceiling more quickly in Kansas City. To be the type of player that he strives to be and that the team knows he can be.