Chiefs' Josh Simmons unlikely for opener; undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson in line to start at left tackle

The Chiefs are preparing for the possibility that the left tackle protecting Patrick Mahomes on Monday night will be an undrafted rookie. Josh Simmons is unlikely to play in the Week 1 opener against the Broncos because of a back injury, and coach Andy Reid said undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson would likely start in his place if Simmons can't go.

Simmons has been dealing with the back issue for a matter of weeks, and Reid made the contingency explicit rather than leaving it implied. Chiefs beat writer Nate Taylor captured Reid's confidence in the rookie:

Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor): Andy Reid on Kahlil Benson: "We're comfortable playing Kahlil on the left side. ... There's a good chance Josh [Simmons] doesn't play this week."

Comfortable, yes — and apparently prepared. Benson has been taking the left tackle snaps in Simmons' place going back to practice last week, Reid expects the rookie to "likely" get the start:

The path to this moment is the unlikely part of the story. Benson entered the offseason as a rookie tryout player rather than arriving as a draft pick.

If Simmons can't go, the Chiefs will hand the left tackle job to a first-year player who started his tenure as a tryout invite — and ask him to protect the blind side of a quarterback making his own return from ACL surgery on Monday night against the division-rival Broncos.