Chiefs likely have to use undrafted rookie at key position as injury replacement for Week 1

Patrick Mahomes’ return from a torn ACL on Sunday will involve trusting an undrafted rookie as his blindside protector.

Josh Simmons, the Chiefs’ first-round pick in 2025, was ruled out for their season opener Monday night against the Broncos with a lower back injury, meaning that Kahlil Benson — who played for Indiana and went undrafted — is expected to start for Kansas City, according to ESPN.

He’d mark the first undrafted rookie to start for an Andy Reid-led offense during his stint as Kansas City head coach, the outlet added.

The stakes, of course, are higher for Benson on Sunday too, with Mahomes making his return from a torn ACL suffered in Week 15 of last season and left tackle considered the most important spot on the offensive line.

Despite working mostly at right tackle during training camp, Benson will flip to the left side, and Jaylon Moore will start for Kansas City at right tackle, according to the outlet.

“He’s done a nice job for us,” Reid told reporters of Benson. “He’s obviously shown us that he has the ability to play. We wouldn’t put him in there if we didn’t think that. We’ve all been through that. I think when we first got hired, we thought we probably were pretty good at it, so I want his confidence to be that and go out and play and just use his abilities.”

Benson, who spent his first four seasons at Indiana and then transferred back for a final year following a campaign at Colorado, made 12 starts last year at right tackle for a Hoosiers team that won the College Football Playoff championship.

He received an invite to rookie minicamp — one of 104 players the Chiefs brought in — and signed a deal afterward, and at one point, he’d appeared on track to start at right tackle.

That would’ve been notable, given the Chiefs’ status as they attempt to orchestrate the second act of their dynasty.

But then Simmons was ruled out.

Then Benson, despite being an undrafted free agent, suddenly stepped into a major role for his NFL debut.

“Kahlil has been hungry since day one, eager to learn,” right guard Trey Smith said last month during training camp, according to ESPN.

“He works extremely hard and he’s a strong man. I think he has a real aspiration, a real want to be great.”