Kansas City Chiefs 2025 first-round draft pick Josh Simmons gives update on the rehab process of his knee injury
For the second straight year, the left tackle position will be under the microscope for the Chiefs during offseason activities. Kansas City acquired former San Francisco 49er Jaylon Moore during free agency, then drafted Josh Simmons out of Ohio State in the 2025 NFL Draft. It appears those two will battle it out for the […]
For the second straight year, the left tackle position will be under the microscope for the Chiefs during offseason activities.
Kansas City acquired former San Francisco 49er Jaylon Moore during free agency, then drafted Josh Simmons out of Ohio State in the 2025 NFL Draft. It appears those two will battle it out for the starting LT job, as 2024 second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia converts to guard and Wanya Morris serves as the swing tackle.
Simmons may face a bit of an uphill battle to win the role given that he is a rookie and is coming off a torn patellar tendon injury back in October that ended his 2024 season with the Buckeyes. Simmons spoke about the mindset he's taken during the rehab process to the media ahead of Chiefs rookie minicamp on Saturday.
"I was super frustrated, you know, pissed," Simmons said. "Biggest season we ever had. Had all the tools to win a natty (national championship), which we obviously did. But, I just had to kind of grow up and just put all that frustration into rehab and just get after it. Something like this is not easy, but you definitely just got to come in and attack it like hell every day. Just really go hard in rehab. That's kind of how you have to do something like this."
That's definitely a mature mindset for a young player like Simmons. The hard work he has put in during rehab is part of what impressed the Chiefs enough to spend a first-round pick on him. While Simmons may be limited during rookie camp, it is expected that he'll be ready to go for training camp in late July. For now, Simmons says he'll mostly focus on the mental aspect of the game.
"I'll be getting my toes wet, but right now everything's on rehab," Simmons said. "Whatever the trainers will have me doing is what I'll be doing. I'm really just in the playbook and trying to take mental reps. Obviously what I'm allowed to do, I'm going to do 100 percent."
