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Chiefs rookie Josh Simmons has refused to shed any more light on his mysterious absence from the team earlier this season.
On Wednesday, the first-round draft spoke publicly for the first time since returning to the Chiefs. He had been away for 22 days.
Simmons missed four games due to what the team called a 'family situation.' Head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes both kept tight-lipped on the details behind his absence.
Simmons reported back for duty two weeks ago but on Wednesday he maintained that he wanted to keep the reasons for his absence 'in house.'
'I know everybody wants to know, but it's something I want to keep [private],' the rookie left tackle said. 'Obviously, family is the biggest thing Polynesians lean on. When you get in that, it just makes everything a lot better.'
Simmons returned to the field Sunday, starting in the Chiefs' 22-19 loss in Denver. It marked his first game since October 6.
Chiefs rookie Josh Simmons has refused to shed any more light on his mysterious absence
Left tackle Simmons missed four games due to what the team called a 'family situation'
The saga began ahead of the Chiefs' clash with the Lions. He was slated to play before being downgraded to 'out' just hours before kickoff.
He went on to miss games against the Las Vegas Raiders, Washington Commanders and Buffalo Bills. The rookie flew back to his hometown, San Diego, before returning to the practice facility on November 3.
'I want to thank the entire Kansas City and this club for having my [back] for the time I was away from the team,' said Simmons, who vowed he would be with the team for the remainder of the campaign.
'It showed how much love this team and city has for me. I can't wait to give it back to them.'
The 22-year-old revealed that he had access to gyms and his playbook during his sudden four-game absence.
'I was making sure I was working out, just keeping my feet alive and making sure my nervous system was woken up,' Simmons explained. 'I was ready to play. The communication with the team was very transparent, especially at the end.
'I had some teammates that were always checking in on me. When you have teammates like that, it definitely [helped]... I was itching to get back and fight for them.'
The Chiefs drafted the 22-year-old out of Ohio State with the 32nd overall pick in April.
They were hopeful that he would be able to overcome a knee injury that cost him most of last season and to become the blind-side protector they had long sought for Mahomes.
'He had to take care of business, and he took care of it,' head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday
Simmons not only rebounded quickly from the injury, he showed so much promise in camp that he earned the starting job early. And he was on the field for the first six weeks of the season, impressing both his coaches and teammates with his rapid development.
'He had to take care of business, and he took care of it,' head coach Reid said Wednesday of Simmons.
Mahomes added: 'He's a great football player, and he's gotten better every week that he's played... and he will continue to get better.'
In other news Wednesday, left guard Kingsley Suamataia remained in the concussion protocol and did not practice, and wide receiver Xavier Worthy was on the field but did not appear to be participating after Reid said he had tweaked an ankle injury.
Running back Isiah Pacheco was back at practice with a brace on his right knee. He has missed the past two games.
