The Chiefs are getting receiver Rashee Rice back this week, but the situation with their left tackle is much less clear.
Head coach Andy Reid declined to discuss anything related to rookie Josh Simmons, including whether he would practice on Wednesday and if there’s a timeline for his return to the team.
“As far as Josh Simmons’ situation goes, I’m not going to comment on it today,” Reid said. "[G.M. Brett] Veach is handling everything there. And we’ll leave it at that.”
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes also elected to keep all details in-house.
“I’ll keep conversations kind of between us,” Mahomes said. “But I’m always praying for him. I’m praying for all my teammates, so I’m always praying for him. I’ll just keep everything else kind of private to us.”
Simmons reportedly went to California over the weekend to deal with a family matter. It appears he is still away from the team.
With Reid noting Veach is handling the matter, there could be a roster move to come. Or Simmons could be back with the team soon.
Jaylon Moore started at left tackle in Simmons’ stead and would presumably do the same this week if Simmons remains unavailable.
Patrick Mahomes had another strong performance against the Lions on Sunday night and now he’s been recognized for it.
For the 12th time in his career, Mahomes has been named AFC offensive player of the week.
Mahomes finished the 30-17 win 22-of-30 for 257 yards with three passing touchdowns and no interceptions — good for a 132.2 passer rating. He also had a rushing touchdown, marking the league’s only four-touchdown performance in Week 6.
Mahomes has now won offensive player of the week multiple times this season, having earned it in Week 4. It’s the first time Mahomes has been offensive player of the week two times in a season since 2022, when he won it in Week 1 and Week 4.
The Chiefs will try to keep things rolling in Week 7 at home against the Raiders.
The trick-play fourth-down touchdown on Detroit’s opening drive in Kansas City violated the rules. There’s an unresolved question regarding how the violation was detected.
The flag wasn’t thrown immediately. From the snap (at which the violation occurred) until the flag was thrown by referee Craig Wrolstad, one minute and 15 seconds elapsed.
Wrolstad said the penalty was called “after discussion.” The circumstances — and the delay — invited speculation that Wrolstad received guidance from the league office as to the situation.
That speculation may be accurate.
Appearing Wednesday morning on 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit, Lions coach Dan Campbell said he was told that New York made the call.
That’s not what Wrolstad told pool reporter Matt Derrick after the game. Wrolstad said the call was made after discussion by the crew, with no assistance from New York.
What’s the truth? Who knows? But the broadcast showed Wrolstad speaking directly to Campbell after the penalty was announced.
In the end, they got it right. But if Campbell’s version is accurate, they did it the wrong way. In violation of clear, indisputable procedures for when the league office may assist the on-field officials.
Coupled with the fact that the final decision benefited the Chiefs — who had zero penalties called against them for the entire game — and it’s time for some to take out the tinfoil hats. Again.
Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice’s suspension is over and he’s back with the team, and coach Andy Reid credits Rice’s hard work with having him ready to go right away.
Reid said that NFL rules prohibited the Chiefs from working with him, but that Rice worked out on his own and should be ready to be one of Patrick Mahomes’ top receivers on Sunday against the Raiders.
“I know he’s been working like crazy, the rule states that we can’t work with him,” Reid said. “He has been working out hard, and I think it’s just a matter of getting him back in the swing. I’ve got to see it to work through it, but I know he’s in good shape, that’s the one thing I do know. I think that’ll be important, getting him back in there, getting him with Patrick, getting them on the same page. We’ll see how all that works out. We haven’t put the game plan in yet so we’re working through all that now.”
After a sluggish start to the season, the Chiefs looked great on Sunday night against the Lions, they’re 12.5-point favorites to beat the Raiders on Sunday, and they’re the betting favorites to win the AFC West. Rice’s return is another reason for optimism in Kansas City.
The Chiefs continue to deliver in prime time. Or at any time.
Sunday night’s must-win victory over the Lions generated more than 27.3 million viewers on NBC and Peacock. It was the second biggest October audience for a Sunday Night Football game, behind only Tom Brady’s return to New England on October 3, 2021.
Sunday Night Football now has exceeded 25 million viewers for the fourth time this year. That’s the most through Week 6 in SNF history. Last year, four games exceeded 25 million for the entire season.
For the year, Sunday Night Football is averaging 25.2 million viewers per week, an 11-percent increase from 2024 and the best six-week start ever for the broadcast.
Of that number, a record 3.0 million per week are streaming the game on Peacock.
