By MAX WINTERS, US DEPUTY SPORTS EDITOR
Published: | Updated:
The mystery surrounding the whereabouts of Kansas City Chiefs rookie Josh Simmons has deepened after their owner, Clark Hunt, joined coach Andy Reid in refusing to discuss his absence.
The offensive lineman’s whereabouts remain a mystery over a week after he was first absent from the win over the Detroit Lions in Week 6.
He was slated to play that day but around five hours before kickoff was listed as ‘questionable’ for ‘personal’ reasons. Three hours later, the Chiefs downgraded Simmons to out.
After his team’s 30-17 win over the Lions, Reid said the first-round draft pick ‘was gone for personal reasons.’
Simmons was then missing for the entirety of last week too, including Sunday’s resounding 31-0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
While attending the NFL owners’ meeting in New York on Tuesday, Hunt was asked by ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler if he could shed some light on the situation around Simmons.
Chiefs owner Clark Hunt joined Andy Reid in refusing to discuss the absence of Josh Simmons
The offensive linemen’s whereabouts remain a mystery after missing two Chiefs games
But the billionaire refused to do so, simply replying: ‘I really can’t comment.’
Reid also refused to address Simmons’ prolonged absence on Monday morning, only revealing once again that general manager Brett Veach is ‘handling everything.’
The coach said: ‘As far as Josh goes I don’t have any updates for you. (Brett) Veach is handling everything there and so just move on with that. Alright?’
Patrick Mahomes revealed last week that he was surprised by Simmons’ absence for the Lions game.
‘I didn’t fully know, obviously we had walk-through around noon or 1pm and he wasn’t there, so I knew something was up,’ he said.
It has been claimed that Mahomes asked about Simmons, only to be told by coaches that they ‘didn’t know’ where he was.
Over recent days, precise details have remained under wraps with none of Mahomes, Reid or the Chiefs offering any explanation for his absence.
Mahomes, meanwhile, was asked if he had spoken with Simmons.
‘I’ll keep conversations between us but I’m always praying for all my teammates,’ the quarterback said. ‘I’ll keep everything else private to us.’
