The Kansas City Chiefs are in big trouble and it all started on Thanksgiving. They lost the game to the Cowboys with a 31-28 scoreline, and now the playoff picture looks dim. But that’s just not it.

The game saw one of their best rookies of the season leave the game in the second half with a banged-up wrist, and what follows is heartbreaking news for the Arrowheads.  We're talking about Josh Simmons.

It happened on a play where the Chiefs were using a chip block by RB Kareem Hunt to help on the edge. According to KSHB-TV’s Matt Foster, who reviewed the play, LT Josh Simmons’ wrist got caught between Hunt and the Cowboys defender that Hunt was chipping. This “friendly fire” contact created an awkward, compressed angle on Simmons’ wrist. 

The LT will not be seen on the field for an indefinite time as he has dislocated and broken his wrist. “Chiefs LT Josh Simmons, who impressed against the #Cowboys before exiting with an injury, suffered a dislocated and fractured wrist, sources say. He left the stadium in a cast and is out indefinitely. MRI tomorrow, then he’ll seek opinions on treatment options,” Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network said in a post on X. 

It won't be his first time sitting out of a game. Earlier in the season, he missed four due to personal reasons, but this time, his absence will be costly. The Chiefs have to win every game to reach the playoffs.

Simmons was selected by the Chiefs in the first round of the 2025 and he has been worth the 14.6 million deal. With 526 total offensive snaps played in 8 games, and 367 pass-blocking snaps and 159 run-blocking snaps, he's been a crucial part of the team.

In that span, he allowed 18 total pressures, including 2 sacks and 2 QB hits, while committing 8 penalties. This loss will put a lot more pressure on their backup offensive linemen, which increases the risk of sacks, quarterback hits, and disruption of both pass and run plays. What’s worse is that he’s not the only one injured in this game. 

Injury Crisis for the Chiefs

After the game, Andy Reid also confirmed this in his statement, saying, “Bryan Cook sprained his right ankle. Jawaan Taylor hurt his tricep, Josh Simmons hurt his wrist, so I’ll have to see how those things are going to recover.” All important members of the team. 

Bryan Cook has had 33 solo tackles and 17 assists in 12 games this season, and through 728 offensive snaps, Taylor logged 498 pass-blocking snaps and 230 run-blocking snaps. In that time, he allowed 18 total pressures, including 3 sacks and 5 QB hits, while being flagged for 13 penalties.

The Chiefs are hit pretty hard in the defense and will now lean on Jaylon Moore and Wanya Morris in the upcoming games.

The playoff chances look very grim for the team now. "We're going to play a lot of good teams coming up," Mahomes said after the Cowboys game. "If we're going to make the playoffs, we're going to have to win them all. That's got to be the mindset when we step into the [training facility] when we get back." Facing the Texans, Chargers, and others with a banged-up defense, it's going to be tough. Do you think the Chiefs will make it through? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Reyansh Dubey

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar