Chiefs Rookie Lineman Suffers Devastating Injury After Week 13 Loss to Cowboys – This Could End His Career

The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t just lose on the scoreboard during their Thanksgiving showdown against the Dallas Cowboys – they may have lost one of their most promising rookies for the rest of the season, or worse… permanently.

Dislocated and Fractured Wrist – A Double Blow

Rookie offensive tackle Josh Simmons suffered a dislocated and fractured wrist during the Chiefs' 31-28 defeat to the Cowboys in Week 13. Head Coach Andy Reid confirmed on December 1 that Simmons is seeking a second medical opinion, a move that often signals a serious, potentially career-altering injury.

“I feel deeply saddened by this. He’s given everything to this team – every hit, every block, every moment. Watching him go down like that just breaks my heart. We can change schemes, but we can’t replace his heart. All we can do now is pray he comes back, because players like him don’t come around twice.”
– Coach Andy Reid

Likely Heading to Injured Reserve – And Possibly More

According to NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Matt Verderame, Simmons is expected to miss significant time and will likely be placed on Injured Reserve (IR). That means he’s out for at least several months, and there's a real concern about long-term damage.

For a rookie offensive tackle, this is a worst-case scenario. Wrist functionality is crucial for blocking, leverage, and hand placement – any complication could jeopardize his entire career before it even begins.

Emergency Response: Chiefs Try Out 5 Free-Agent Tackles in One Day

On the same day news broke of Simmons’ injury, the Chiefs moved fast. They held tryouts with five free-agent offensive tackles, including:

• Zach Banner (Former Steelers, 6’8” – a physical powerhouse)

This flurry of tryouts clearly shows that Kansas City is urgently seeking a replacement – not just for next week’s game vs. the Texans, but potentially for the rest of the 2025 season.

Some Good News: Taylor and Smith Recovering

In the midst of this injury storm, there is a sliver of hope:
Right tackle Jawaan Taylor (triceps injury) and right guard Trey Smith are both recovering well and may return to the lineup soon, potentially reinforcing the offensive line.

Quick Summary:

With the offensive line in crisis and a playoff push underway, can the Chiefs survive this major blow? And for Josh Simmons, is this just a setback – or the end of a career that had only just begun?