Patrick Mahomes‘ expected return for the Kansas City Chiefs has been the headline of opening week. The more immediate tactical question may be who protects his blind side. Head coach Andy Reid has indicated there is a good chance starting left tackle Josh Simmons will miss the Week 1 game against the Denver Broncos because of a back injury, putting Kahlil Benson in position for one of the highest-pressure assignments on the roster.
The distinction matters because this is a materially different issue from Mahomes’ own availability. The quarterback is trending toward starting after recovering from the ACL and LCL injuries that ended his 2025 season. If Simmons cannot go, Kansas City could welcome Mahomes back by asking an inexperienced replacement to handle left tackle against a divisional defense that knows the quickest way to disrupt the Chiefs is to make the pocket uncomfortable.
Kansas City’s current depth chart lists Simmons first at left tackle and Benson second. Reuters reported that Benson is the likely replacement if Simmons is unavailable, while Reid has emphasized that the team does not want to rush Simmons back before his back is ready.
Why the Josh Simmons injury matters more because Mahomes is returning
Every quarterback benefits from stable protection, but Mahomes’ situation adds a layer of risk management. He has spent the offseason rebuilding from a major knee injury. The Chiefs will not want his first regular-season game to turn into a scramble drill because the left side of the pocket cannot hold up.
That does not mean Kansas City should make Mahomes passive. His creativity and movement have always been part of what makes the offense difficult to defend. The goal is to make movement a choice rather than a survival mechanism. A clean edge gives Mahomes time to work through progressions and lets Andy Reid call deeper-developing concepts without constantly attaching emergency protection.
The Chiefs therefore have two connected Week 1 return stories. Mahomes’ knee has to tolerate game speed, and the offensive line has to give him a pocket stable enough that the comeback is not immediately tested by repeated contact.
Kahlil Benson would be stepping into a difficult role
Benson is on the 53-man roster because Kansas City believes he can develop into useful tackle depth. The challenge is that left tackle against Denver is not a developmental environment. The Broncos can move rushers, attack protections from different angles and force a young lineman to communicate through stunts rather than simply survive isolated pass-rush reps.
Arrowhead Pride reported that Benson has experience at right tackle and guard from college, making the move to the left side another layer of adjustment. Reid has praised his work ethic and ability to learn, but no practice evaluation can fully reproduce the timing and violence of a regular-season edge rush.
The Chiefs can help him. Tight ends can chip before releasing. Running backs can scan toward the left side. The offense can use quicker throws and movement passes to change the launch point. But every protection resource used to protect Benson is a resource not being used elsewhere in the concept.
Denver can test the replacement without blitzing recklessly
The Broncos do not need to send six rushers on every third down to make the left tackle relevant. The cleaner strategy is to create difficult one-on-one situations while keeping enough defenders in coverage to close Mahomes’ escape routes and throwing windows.
If Benson holds up, Kansas City can stay patient and run the offense it wants. If he struggles early, Reid may have to alter the protection menu quickly. That can shorten route concepts, reduce the number of receivers in patterns and make the offense easier to defend over a full game.
The rest of Kansas City’s line has to make the transition easier
One reason a backup tackle can survive is veteran help around him. Creed Humphrey remains the organizing presence at center, and the Chiefs have experience elsewhere on the line. Communication can prevent free rushers even when a replacement loses an individual rep.
The most damaging outcome would be compounding the talent change with assignment errors. A young tackle getting beaten physically is sometimes unavoidable. A young tackle and guard blocking the same rusher while another defender runs free is a preventable breakdown. Kansas City will spend the week trying to eliminate the second category.
Reid can protect Benson without shrinking the entire offense
The Chiefs have enough skill talent to build answers around an uncertain tackle. Travis Kelce can align closer to the line and chip. Kenneth Walker can help in protection or punish light boxes on the ground. Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy can create quick separation that lets Mahomes get the ball out before the rush develops.
The most important adjustment may be sequencing. If Kansas City establishes early that Denver cannot simply tee off on Benson, the offense can gradually open the call sheet. Runs behind or away from the left side, screens and quick play-action can all force the rush to hesitate.
That is different from building a fearful game plan. The Chiefs do not want the entire offense to announce that one position is compromised. They want to make the replacement’s job manageable while preserving enough aggression to keep the Broncos from dictating terms.
What Simmons’ absence would say about Kansas City’s depth planning
Injuries are unavoidable; the useful roster question is whether a team has credible solutions behind premium starters. Kansas City kept Benson on the active roster and lists him directly behind Simmons. Week 1 may show whether that depth-chart confidence translates to real football.
If Benson plays well, the Chiefs gain more than one game of protection. They gain evidence that the roster has a developmental tackle capable of handling meaningful snaps. If he struggles, the front office may need to reconsider how comfortable it is with the current depth behind Simmons.
What to watch before Monday night
Simmons’ practice participation will remain the first checkpoint. Reid has not declared him definitively out, so any improvement could change the plan. If Simmons is unable to practice meaningfully, Kansas City will have more reason to give Benson the full first-team workload rather than dividing preparation.
Also watch whether the Chiefs identify any additional offensive-line concerns on the official injury report. A single replacement can be schemed around. Multiple changes make protection communication much harder, especially against a division opponent.
The Mahomes comeback will be judged partly by what happens around him
Mahomes’ first start after a major knee injury will naturally be evaluated through his movement, accuracy and willingness to extend plays. The left tackle situation is a reminder that quarterback performance is never isolated. A clean pocket can make a comeback look smooth; constant edge pressure can make a healthy quarterback look uncomfortable.
If Simmons misses the opener, Benson does not have to be perfect. He has to keep the offense functional. That means avoiding repeated immediate losses, communicating through pressure looks and giving Mahomes enough time to operate from structure.
Kansas City has spent months waiting to see Mahomes back in a real game. The final piece of that return may come down to a less glamorous question on the line. If the Chiefs can survive Week 1 without their starting left tackle, the comeback story stays centered on Mahomes. If they cannot, Josh Simmons’ back injury could become the first major obstacle of Kansas City’s new season.