Chiefs plan to start “the five best guys” at offensive line as Josh Simmons’ availability is uncertain

Week 1 without their regular left tackle, Josh Simmons. Head coach Andy Reid said there's "a good chance" Simmons does not play to open the season. That puts pressure on a line that has frequently operated under a next-man-up mentality during the Mahomes era.

Rookie Kahlil Benson — an undrafted player who earned a roster spot after rookie minicamp tryouts — has worked at multiple positions during the preseason. Reid said Benson has been taking reps on the blind side in recent practices and called him "one of the five best guys" on the offensive line. Reid added that if Benson has to play left tackle, "then he's the left tackle, and we roll with it."

Pro Football Focus snap counts across Benson's four college seasons show he rarely lined up on the left edge:

• 2 snaps as an in-line tight end
• 42 snaps at left guard
• 967 snaps at right guard
• 1,653 snaps at right tackle

Those numbers mean Benson has almost no documented college experience at left tackle. Coaches have praised his "dominant physical traits," and some preseason run-blocking reps impressed staffers, but pass-protection reps at right tackle in preseason exposed inconsistency. Reid excused some bad preseason reps by citing unfamiliarity with the silent count, but those snaps were at a position Benson knows better.

Ravens during cutdown week. Pounds has substantial left-tackle experience in college — 2,651 snaps on the left edge and all 58 of his preseason snaps with the Ravens came at left tackle. Despite that track record, the Chiefs' coaches said Pounds needs more time to acclimate, which currently makes Reid prefer sticking with Benson if Simmons is out.

Patrick Mahomes will be starting his first live game since a significant knee injury last December and did not take preseason snaps. Left tackle is the blind-side protector. Putting a player with minimal left-side experience on the blind side raises legitimate matchup concerns, especially against teams that frequently align strong pass rushers over the right edge. The article cites Denver's Nik Bonitto as an example of an edge defender who often matches up over the left tackle.

If Simmons cannot play Week 1, the Chiefs are prepared to start Benson at left tackle despite his lack of collegiate snaps there. Diego Pounds is the more experienced pure left tackle on the roster, but coaches want him to get more comfortable with the offense. Reid framed the decision as a matter of picking the five best available linemen, accepting some positional trade-offs to preserve line continuity and player familiarity.