The Chiefs made head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder available to the media to explain the 2026 Simmons Saga today. On August 17th, the young left tackle reported calf discomfort in the same leg that he underwent a patellar tendon repair in 2024. Chiefs trainers discovered that a bulging, herniated disc in his lumbar spine was causing the lower-leg issue. According to Burkholder, offensive linemen occasionally deal with this type of disc issue, but Simmons’ issue was complicated because it was abnormally high up in the lumbar spine. Simmons consulted with a well-regarded spine specialist, who recommended rehabilitation instead of surgery. Imaging taken early in the rehab process showed improvement, so they stayed the course, but unfortunately, Simmons’ recovery has recently plateaued, leading to the injured reserve placement. Simmons will be eligible to return for the Chiefs’ Week 11 game against the Cardinals.