Simmons is on IR, and the left tackle spot is unsettled again

Josh Simmons went on injured reserve Thursday, his bulging disk still not cooperating despite a recent return to practice. Kansas City's medical staff says surgery isn't required, but the rehab has stalled enough that they needed to make it official. He was already declared out for the opener back in September; this move confirms he won't be a factor anytime soon.

The timing is awkward. Right tackle Jaylon Moore entered concussion protocol during Sunday's win over the Chargers, which means both starting tackle spots are in some degree of flux at the same moment. The depth chart lists Diego Pounds at OT and a collection of interior linemen — Ezeudu, Suamataia, Nourzad — who have been shuffling into roles all season. That's a lot of moving parts for a protection group that needs to keep Patrick Mahomes clean.

The 5-0 record makes it easy to wave this off. Kenneth Walker has been running behind this line well enough to lead the NFL in rushing yards, and the offense is averaging better than 11 points per game over opponents. The line has held. But last season's collapse didn't announce itself either — it crept in through execution failures that compounded over weeks. An unsettled left tackle situation heading into the back half of the schedule is worth watching, even if it isn't a crisis yet.