Benson gets the left tackle job for Week 1, with Mahomes on the other side of him

Josh Simmons is listed Questionable heading into the opener, and the depth chart has Kahlil Benson — an undrafted rookie — slotted at tackle behind him. If Simmons can't go, that's who lines up to protect Mahomes' blind side in his first regular-season game back from a torn ACL and LCL.

It's another item on a list that has gotten longer all camp. The receiving corps has been shuffling in and out of the injury report for weeks. Xavier Worthy is still Questionable. The Chiefs traded away Wanya Morris during the offseason. And now the left tackle spot, which should be a settled piece of the puzzle around a returning franchise quarterback, is anything but.

Benson showing up on the depth chart at all is worth noting on its own. Undrafted rookies don't typically draw Week 1 starting assignments at tackle, and the fact that he's the contingency here says something about where the Chiefs are along the offensive line right now. Mahomes has limited preseason reps behind him. The last thing this offense needs is a protection breakdown in the first quarter of the season.

Simmons' status will be the thing to watch between now and kickoff.