Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images
After Kansas City’s first training camp practice, Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes spoke about the rookie left tackle.
On Tuesday, the
Kansas City Chiefs took the field for their first practice of 2025 training camp. Of the 91 players in attendance, there is perhaps no player more deserving of attention than first-round rookie Josh Simmons.
After the Chiefs selected Simmons out of
Ohio State with the No. 32 overall pick in this year’s draft, the almost immediate consensus was that Kansas City had pulled a grand heist on the rest of the NFL. Simmons was considered a likely top-10 pick had it not been for his college injury.
The choice is already paying dividends in St. Joseph, as Simmons was a full participant on Day 1.
“He did some good things,” said head coach Andy Reid. “He worked in there with the [first-team offensive line] and did a nice job, I thought. He’s got things he’s got to work on, but you keep doing that.”
Starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor underwent cleanup surgery on his knee after the 2024 season, limiting him for organized team activities (OTAs) and sending him to the
physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list to start the summer session.
Because of that, Simmons took every rep at left tackle while new veteran signee Jaylon Moore manned the right tackle position. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes liked what he saw in Simmons’ first camp reps.
“I think he’s done a great job,” said Mahomes. “You see the talent, obviously. You see the physical ability. But I think more than that, the way he’s worked. I got to see him working through the rest of his rehab process and then working on the field. He’s done a great job with that, and then learning. He’s getting tested every single day with [defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo] and being able to pick up blitzes and do all different types of stuff, as well as go get some great pass-rushers. I’m excited for the future that he has.”
In the months leading into camp, the prospect of Simmons earning the starting job as a rookie has shifted from what was once thought to be far-fetched into a genuine reality. Because of that, Mahomes has continued to stress communication with the 22-year-old — both on and off the field.
“That’s why we sit in the film room and we talk through these things,” said the quarterback. “I’m talking to the whole O-line, and we have to all be on the same page. And I think it’s going to help him a lot that Creed [Humphrey’s] there and Trey [Smith] and some of these veteran guys that know kind of how I talk and what I mean when I say stuff, as well as just us meeting together and having that communication. Like I say every training camp, the best test you’re going to get is against Spags. So going up against him, seeing those blitzes, communicating, that’s going to help us a lot as we get to the season.”
During his turn at the podium, Smith shared some of the advice he is providing Simmons.
“Just go to work,” said Smith. “Just apply everything you can to your game. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Everything’s not going to come at once. It’s going to take time to develop those habits. St. Joe’s one of the hardest training camps in the NFL. It’s going to be miserable every single day. Just get used to it, man.
“At the end of the day, you’ve just got to keep fighting. You’ve got to keep punching. You’ve got to keep swinging day after day after day, just stacking and building. When the season comes around, you’re ready.”
After turning his sixth‑round beginnings
into the richest guard deal ever, Smith would know.
And you could bet Simmons is listening.
Injury report
- Returned to practice: N/A
- Out of practice (due to injury): N/A
- Left practice early (due to injury): N/A
- Non-football injury (NFI) list: DL BJ Thompson
- Physically unable to perform (PUP) list: CB Kristian Fulton (out with knee since 7/22), OL Jawaan Taylor (out with knee since 7/22), TE Tre Watson (out since 7/22)
Post of the day
Our John Dixon
compiled all of Tuesday’s posts here. Here is the
post of the day:
Who needs media with little fans asking the most important questions?
Quote of the day
Defensive end George Karlaftis on his mentorship of rookie defensive end Ashton Gillotte: “I was extremely fortunate... three years ago, probably around today, I had guy called Frank Clark, and he was out here every single day after practice — and I’ve been fortunate enough to know Ashton for a couple years now, and working with him and trying to pass down the torch, kind of like Frank did me. Carlos [Dunlap], Chris [Jones], all those guys that I had my rookie year. And that’s really what it’s about: figuring it out as you go, it makes it a lot easier when you got a guy that wants the best for you and is genuine about your success and all that stuff.”
What’s next?
Tuesday’s initial practice leads into another workout on Wednesday as part of the ramp-up period. That workout begins at 9:15 a.m. Arrowhead Time. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will address the media following the practice as linebackers sign autographs.
Here’s the
complete 2025 training camp schedule.
