Latest news with #JaylonMoore
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Sport
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Chiefs Not Shutting Door On Rookie Starting Week 1
Chiefs Not Shutting Door On Rookie Starting Week 1 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The left tackle position for the Kansas City Chiefs will be an interesting watch at training camp with both Jaylon Moore and Josh Simmons battling it out to be Patrick Mahomes' blindside protector. Advertisement Moore was signed in free agency to a two-year, $30 million deal, so naturally, the thought was that he would be the starter. However, the Chiefs didn't stop there and drafted Simmons in the first round to have competition for the position. Given that Simmons was recovering from a torn patellar tendon injury, he was a slow burn to begin the offseason, but he has ramped up his rehab and is now looking ready to go for training camp if things continue. And head coach Andy Reid isn't shutting down the idea of Simmons being the starter. 'Potentially yes,' Reid said. 'You can see his athletic ability, you can see his want to, he's got a great attitude, he's approached everything the right way, plus a little bit extra. If you just want to look at his rehab, you can see that he had a mindset that I'm get in there, it's not going to be training camp, it's going to be now, and he worked his tail off to get there, so you respect that. Advertisement "We'll see what training camp does to him, it's different when things are flying fast up there and you've got full contact and pads on, and see how he does.' Chiefs Ohio State OL Josh Simmons at 32By Tony Fisher So training camp looms as the big test for Simmons to show that everything he's learned at OTAs and minicamp can then be translated onto the field and with full contact. The left side of the offensive line, for most, has big question marks surrounding it, but those questions might be answered in training camp if Simmons or Moore can prove, without a doubt, that they deserve to be the starter. The competition won't be a quick one as the Chiefs will want to get a good look at both before making a decision. Advertisement However, the fact that Reid is already potentially thinking of Simmons as a starter might tell us which way he and the coaching staff are already leaning. Related: Chiefs' Travis Kelce Reveals Retirement Update and Where He 'Failed' In 2024 Related: Struggling Chiefs Rookie Finally Impresses at Mandatory Minicamp This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Two Key Positions To Determine Chiefs' Success In 2025
Two Key Positions To Determine Chiefs' Success In 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Kansas City Chiefs have seen a lot of people jump off their bandwagon in 2025, with the reworked offensive line a big reason why. Advertisement Star guard Joe Thuney is now a Chicago Bear, career backup Jaylon Moore is the starter at left tackle, and Kingsley Suamataia is the new left guard after failing to take his chance at tackle last season. Plus, rookie Josh Simmons, Kansas City's first-round draft pick, is on the comeback trail from a nasty knee injury. Also, there is Jawaan Taylor at right tackle, who, as we know, has had up-and-down form over the past couple of seasons with a combined 28 penalties. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the protection of Patrick Mahomes, and according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, the Chiefs' 2025 season rests squarely on the offensive line. "So much to me depends on those two tackle positions," Breer said. "What does Jawaan Taylor look like coming back? I think eventually the plan is to have Josh Simmons at left tackle and Jaylon Moore at right tackle, that'd be my guess in 2026. But can you get a good year out of Jawaan Taylor? Can you get anything out of Simmons coming off of a really bad injury in year one? What does Jaylon Moore look like at left tackle? I think those are the things that are going to determine how far this team goes." Chiefs Ohio State OL Josh Simmons at 32By Tony Fisher We saw in the Super Bowl how easily a ferocious Philadelphia Eagles pass rush ran through the offensive line. Does the signing of Moore, the drafting of Simmons, and Suamataia to left guard change that? Advertisement The Chiefs sure hope so. With a division that is set to be improved, and the Chiefs having a host of question marks over them entering the year, they will have to do something they haven't had to do in the Mahomes era - prove people wrong. Does everything fall on the offensive line in 2025? Given how the season ended for Kansas City last year, that is a fair assumption. Which makes getting this offensive line firing perhaps the No. 1 priority for the Chiefs this offseason. Related: Chiefs' Receivers 'Gonna Be A Show' Says Rashee Rice Related: TV Analyst Rips Chiefs Andy Reid Legacy With Patrick Mahomes Claim This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chiefs Graded For 'Smart' Offensive Moves This Offseason
Chiefs Graded For 'Smart' Offensive Moves This Offseason originally appeared on Athlon Sports. We are at the stage of the offseason where OTAs and minicamps have taken place, and it is a hard period to truly judge offensive line play, with the Kansas City Chiefs a big watch here. Advertisement Given that teams are unable to practice with physicality due to the NFL CBA, offensive linemen are often going against air, so we won't truly know what the Chiefs have in Jaylon Moore and rookie left tackle Josh Simmons until training camp. But the line itself, for some, still has some uncertainty around it, with Patrick Mahomes' left side completely new, and that will take time to mesh. However, while some are skeptical of the offensive line as a whole, Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr is rather bullish on what general manager Brett Veach was able to do this offseason. "I think what Kansas City did was smart," Orr said. "You got Josh Simmons, but you back-stopped that with Jaylon Moore. And all of a sudden, even though you lose Joe Thuney, this doesn't look as crazy as it used to. There seems to be some sort of there there." Former San Francisco 49ers guard Jaylon Moore blocks Arizona Cardinals linebacker Dennis Yamashita-Imagn Images Orr is right; it doesn't look crazy, but there are still many unknowns about the Chiefs' offensive line. Plus, we haven't spoken of Kingsley Suamataia moving inside to left guard from tackle. Advertisement That is another element to consider. After Mahomes was sacked a career-high 36 times last season, are the new additions to his protection enough to adequately keep him upright? Right now, that is unknown, but Orr seems confident that Moore, who is a career backup, and Simmons, when he gets healthy, can be solid players in front of Patrick. Granted, this is all a projection; with training camp, we will get a definitive look at how the front five will mesh together. Are the Chiefs "smart" for their business regarding the offensive line additions? We'll let the cake bake on that one. Related: Travis Kelce's Slimmer Frame Could Improve Play Related: Chiefs Exuding Confidence in Mahomes Backup This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chiefs 'Regression Talk' Fueled By Worst Offseason Loss
Chiefs 'Regression Talk' Fueled By Worst Offseason Loss originally appeared on Athlon Sports. This offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs have undergone some changes, most of which have occurred on the offensive side of the ball. Advertisement The biggest change was seeing star left guard Joe Thuney be traded to the Chicago Bears as a salary cap casualty, which is just part of the game. It is here that the talk of the Chiefs regressing began. Jaylon Moore was signed in free agency, while Josh Simmons was drafted in the first round to be the top two tackles for Patrick Mahomes. However, the ripple effect of Thuney moving on has left tackle Kingsley Suamataia shifting inside, and now the depth isn't what it used to be, with Mike Caliendo and Wanya Morris the next players up on the depth chart. For CBS Sports, Thuney looms as the Chiefs' biggest offseason loss. "Thuney remains one of the best offensive linemen in the league, but the Chiefs decided to move on so they could clear out the room to keep the younger Trey Smith on the opposite side of the line," CBS Sports writes. Advertisement "Kansas City will move Kingsley Suamataia inside to guard or else go back to Mike Caliendo at that spot, but either way it will mean an entirely new left side of the offensive line with Jaylon Moore or Josh Simmons at left tackle, and that's a big deal in front of the best quarterback in football." Kansas City Chiefs guard Joe Thuney (62) in protection during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Canha/Imagn Images There's a lot of moving parts, and they are ones who many aren't sold on. ... with the word "regression'' popping up. Morris, Caliendo, and Suamataia all failed to take their chances last season, which has led to some trepidation as to how well this new offensive line can protect Mahomes. However, even with Thuney, the Chiefs' offensive line allowed 47 sacks (including playoffs), the most in Mahomes' career. Advertisement Now, with two new faces at left tackle, an untried and untested left guard, and not much confidence on those behind him, the Chiefs' success in 2025 could be determined by how things shake out. And they won't have the ever-reliable Thuney to fix their problems this time around. Related: Patrick Mahomes Reveals One Thing Driving Chiefs' Offseason Related: Chiefs' Offensive Reload Defined By One Key Position This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chiefs Rookie Josh Simmons Offers Injury Update
The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Ohio State stud left tackle Josh Simmons in the first round to solidify the offensive line. Simmons was initially thought to be one of the better tackles in the draft class, but a torn patellar tendon injury to his knee saw him play just six games last season, which isn't ideal when you are trying to get drafted. Advertisement But the football gods shined on Josh, and it was the Chiefs who came calling, and now it is all about trying to get on the field as soon as he can to dot his I's and cross his T's ahead of training camp. However, as rookie minicamp begins, will Josh be able to be involved? "I'll be getting my toes wet," Simmons said. "But right now everything's on rehab, so whatever the trainers will have me doing is kind of what I'll be doing." Chiefs Ohio State OL Josh Simmons at 32By Tony Fisher We imagine the Chiefs will be taking the slow approach with Simmons, and given that Jaylon Moore was signed in free agency, the left tackle spot as a starter, for now. That means Simmons can go about his rehab while learning the playbook to get himself in the best possible frame of mind so that when he is medically cleared to return to the field, he will be ready to roll. Advertisement A big emphasis was placed on fixing Patrick Mahomes' protection this offseason, and with Moore and Simmons coming in, it is clear where the franchise saw its biggest weakness. Once he completes his rehab, you can bet your house that Simmons will be pushing Moore in what is looming as a fascinating training camp battle to be Patrick's blindside protector. Related: Chiefs Travis Kelce Discovers New Home Where He Never Loses Related: Chiefs Draft Pick Can Be Devastating for Patrick Mahomes
