Preseason games may not seem meaningful for NFL fans, but they offer teams an opportunity to run different tests before the real competition gets underway. Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs, for instance, got to see Josh Simmons in action for the first time on Saturday.
The Ohio State product, selected by the Chiefs with the No. 32 pick in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft, started at left tackle and played the first 11 offensive snaps of the 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Simmons made quite an impression in his first game since leaving college, giving Reid positive signs in a position that brought serious problems to Kansas City in the 2024 NFL season. This year, the Chiefs appear to have found the guy they need to protect Patrick Mahomes’ blindside.
Josh Simmons open to feedback from Andy Reid and Chiefs teammates
But Simmons’ performance may not be the only reason Reid should be optimistic about the rookie. Speaking to the press after the game, Simmons showed maturity, making it clear that he’s completely open to getting feedback as he adjusts to life as a pro.
“The way you become like a guy like 52 [Humphrey] or 95 [Jones] is you have to soak everything in like a sponge — no matter if it’s going back to the basics or learning something that you’re totally uncomfortable with. So, I try to keep my ears as open as possible, because I know anything as a rookie can definitely help me,” Simmons said, via Arrowhead Pride.
Andy Reid approves Josh Simmons’ debut with Chiefs
If his work at training camp was promising, Simmons made sure to fuel the expectations around him with his preseason debut. In his postgame press conference, Reid admitted that he liked what he saw from the 22-year-old against the Cardinals.
“I wasn’t screaming at him, so I figured he did okay,” Reid said humorously when asked about Simmons’ performance. “He looked like he had a solid day, especially for his first game. He’s been working his tail off. That kid never complains about anything; he just goes.
“He and Kingsley (Suamataia) are trying to develop something over there, and they haven’t missed any snaps. We’ll see how it all works out and sorts out, but I thought for the first time out, they did a nice job.”