KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said Monday night he’s “hopeful” that left tackle Josh Simmons will return to the club “in the future.”
“It’s not something I can go into, but it is a private family matter,” Hunt said before the team’s Monday night matchup with the Washington Commanders. “And we’ve had good communication with him, and there’s an understanding by both parties as to where he is, and we’re hopeful to have him back with the team at some time in the future.”
When asked what his confidence level is on the return of Simmons and if he feels pretty good, Hunt replied, “I do, I do feel pretty good.”
Hunt’s remarks Monday night were the most detailed statement yet from the Chiefs on the Simmons matter. The club has been tight-lipped on the absence of Simmons, including Coach Andy Reid, whose last update on Thursday indicated that the situation was “positive” with the rookie left tackle.
“Then Josh, my update for you with Josh would be there is communication,” Reid said during Thursday’s press conference. “I’m not going to get into all of it. Everything is positive, it’s not a negative situation. He’s taking care of family.”
Simmons has been away from the team since Oct. 12, when he left the club before the team’s Week 6 contest against the Detroit Lions. Monday night will mark the third straight game in which Simmons has been inactive. Jaylon Moore will make his third start in place of Simmons at left tackle against the Commanders.
Two other members of the Chiefs’ rookie class will not play Monday night, including second-round defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott, who was placed on injured reserve earlier this week. Wide receiver Jalen Royals is among the inactive list, along with Simmons.
Hunt said he expects general manager Brett Veach to be aggressive with the trade deadline approaching at 3 p.m. CT on Nov. 4.
If he feels like we have a need, he’s not shy about going out and addressing it, and I think that’ll be true again this year,” Hunt said. “Obviously important part of it is where you stand from an injury standpoint, and we’ve been pretty fortunate up to this point. We were sad to lose Norman-Lott last week, and that definitely hurt us along the defensive line.”
