KANSAS CITY — The Kansas City Chiefs expect Patrick Mahomes to start against the Denver Broncos in Monday's opener, with head coach Andy Reid saying the quarterback has looked normal in practice, while left tackle Josh Simmons is trending toward missing the game.
Reid provided the update Monday as Kansas City prepared for the AFC West matchup, indicating Mahomes has participated without limitation and shown his usual mobility and command during workouts. Simmons, meanwhile, has not progressed as expected and is now considered likely to sit out, leaving the Chiefs to adjust on the offensive line.
The split developments present contrasting challenges for Kansas City entering Week 1. Mahomes' availability keeps the core of the offense intact and preserves continuity in Reid's system, while a potential absence for Simmons would test depth at left tackle against a Denver front that will look to pressure the edge.
Kansas City will continue to monitor both situations through final practices before making official game designations. If Simmons is ruled out, the Chiefs will need to reconfigure protection plans to keep Mahomes clean in the opener and set the tone for the early divisional schedule.