Could Andy Reid Be Losing Chiefs Younger Players?

The Kansas City Chiefs have had several surprising incidents recently with some of the Chiefs’ younger players and a disturbing pattern is starting to emerge. It’s well worth a dive to see what’s happening here, so let’s get to it. 

One is about an injury situation with an important player. The Chiefs placed left tackle Josh Simmons on IR with an ongoing issue with a back injury, with the latest reports have the injury as a bulging disc. 

But that’s not the disturbing part. Simmons was also dismissed by coach Andy Reid fro putting his feet up during a meeting, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes wound up backing his coach in the controversy. 

It was later reported that Simmons will be going home to meet with his agent and family about possible subsequent actions, and nothing has been heard since about the injury or what the left tackle is doing about it in terms of his rehab.

This is the second time in two seaasons that a personal reason has been a part of Simmons missing games, as last year he left the team for a month to deal with a personal problem. 

There’s also been an incident involving guard Kingsley Sumamataia, who was suddenly benched two weeks ago with no notice or explanation. Reid later said he wanted to keep things between him and his guard, saying that they were “working some things out.” 

Then there’s Rashee Rice, who’s been an off-field problem waiting to happen for the last two seasons. The latest surfaced this week when Rice reportedly filed for bankruptcy, in part due to his medical debts to victims of an accident he caused back in 2024 during a street racing incident in Dallas.

Individually, these incidents don’t represent a real problem, but put them together and they raise questions related to Reid’s relationships with some of his younger players. It’s unlikely, but it is fair to ask given the generational expectations that could be coming into play here. 

It’s especially noticeable given that the Chiefs veterans have been backing Reid to the hilt, Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce especially. They’re all in on what will almost certainly be the last go-round for Kelce as the Chiefs try to end their two-game losing streak against the New York Jets on Sunday. 

The counter is that none of the Chiefs draft picks this year have had issues with Reid, but it’s still something worth keeping an eye on going forward.