KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The battle between Josh Simmons and the bulging disc in his lower back reached 66 days on Thursday, as both the left tackle and the Chiefs agreed a longer absence is necessary, with Simmons heading to injured reserve for at least a month.
The decision to place Simmons on injured reserve came after Simmons had “plateaued” in the rehab process and needs additional time to “return to full function,” said Rick Burkholder, the team’s vice president of sports medicine and performance.
“He’ll continue with the rehab process with the goal of returning to play at the high level that he achieved in the past,” Burkholder said in an appearance in front of reporters Thursday.
Simmons returned to practice on Oct. 14 on a limited basis, and worked out with teammates during practice Wednesday through Thursday last week. He did not take part in any 11-on-11 activities.
“Last week, however, we feel that he’s plateaued in the rehab process as he’s trying to get to the final steps of recovery with return to competition, and he’s just not there yet,” said
Landing on injured reserve means Simmons must miss at least the next four games, although teams can open up a 21-day practice window after a player misses two games. That means Simmons is eligible to return to practice as soon as Nov. 4 after the Chiefs face the Broncos in Week 8, and could return to play as soon as Week 11 when the Chiefs visit the Arizona Cardinals.
Simmon’s battle with the ailing back traces back to Aug. 17 when he first reported discomfort in his left calf, the same leg in which he suffered a torn patellar tendon in October 2024. The Chiefs’ physicians suspected a lower back injury as the cause, and an MRI confirmed that he had a bulging herniated disc in his lumbar spine, Burkholder explained.
Dr. Robert Watkins, a leading back and spine specialist based in Los Angeles, provided a second opinion that concurred with the Chiefs’ prognosis: a herniated disc with exercise and rehab recommended, with no surgery required. Burkholder said an MRI a few weeks later showed the disc had improved.
“We’ve had frequent communication with the second opinion (Watkins), with our doctors, and Josh and his agent, Burkholder said. “Josh worked his tail off.”
The move to place Simmons on injured reserve came after a confusing 24-hour period at One Arrowhead Drive. Coach Andy Reid appeared at his weekly Wednesday press conference shortly before noon and named receiver Rashee Rice and tackle Jaylon Moore as the only players who wouldn’t practice that afternoon. On Monday, Reid said that Simmons “is still probably going to be ramping up as we go.”
Simmons appeared in the Chiefs locker room during the window open to reporters from 11:45 to 12:30. But when the Chiefs opened the media portion of their practice at roughly 1:20 p.m., Simmons was not present. A club spokesperson at that point said the plan was for Simmons to sit out Wednesday’s practice. He was later designated as “did not practice” due to the back injury and a personal (not injury-related) reason.
During that window early Wednesday afternoon, the postures of both the club and Simmons changed quickly. The club presented Simmons with their assessment of his performance last week and the progress he had made in his recovery. Simmons was then given the afternoon off to consult with his family and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, to consider the next course of action while the club placed him on injured reserve. Surgery is still not recommended, Burkholder said.
“After discussion with Josh yesterday, we gave him some time to talk with his family and his representatives to investigate next steps as he goes through this process, and that’s why he was listed yesterday as both personal and with the back injury,” Burkholder explained.
While Simmons and his family may have made a decision regarding his rehab, that hasn’t been unveiled yet. It’s also undetermined whether Simmons will continue his rehab in Kansas City or elsewhere, such as Los Angeles under the eye of Dr. Watkins or closer to his home in San Diego.
Burkholder did praise Simmons for his commitment to his rehab. Yet there remains no timeline for his eventual return to the playing field.
“I give a lot of credit to Josh, my docs, my physicians, and my staff,” Burkholder said. “I just give him a ton of credit for navigating through this injury to the point where surgery is not recommended, and that he just needs more time to return to full function.”
