![\"Chiefs](\"https:\/\/cdn.vox-cdn.com\/thumbor\/wwiD-nC4iGrtfiBdSYGPocCZjkM=\/1400x1050\/filters:format(jpeg)\/cdn.vox-cdn.com\/uploads\/chorus_asset\/file\/25944370\/usa_today_25772147.jpg\")
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On Day 6 of the Kansas City Chiefs\u2019 organized team activities (OTAs) on Wednesday, rookie left tackle Josh Simmons took part in team scrimmage drills for the first time this offseason.<\/p>\n
Simmons continues to rehab from a torn patellar tendon he suffered at Ohio State in mid-October.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe came out of it really well,\u201d said offensive line coach Andy Heck of Simmons after the workout. \u201cThe first thing you can see is his explosive nature. Everything he does is super quick, so we\u2019re working on fine-tuning techniques. He\u2019s able to do individual work within certain limits. As we hone in on the techniques, we don\u2019t want to take away from his athleticism. That\u2019s one of his A-plus strengths.\u201d<\/p>\n
The main question surrounding Simmons has been his availability for the upcoming regular season, but so far, things are trending in the right direction. Simmons was limited during the club\u2019s rookie minicamp and the first week of voluntary camp, yet head coach Andy Reid hinted he was further along than expected.<\/p>\n
Since draft night, Kansas City has been forthcoming in its stance that without the college injury, Simmons certainly would not have been available at No. 32. In a peculiar way, it\u2019s turned into a bit of a blessing from the Chiefs\u2019 perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201c[His] college film [was] phenomenal, really liked it,\u201d said offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. \u201cYou can see athleticism [and] recovery if he gets beat. You talk to his coaches that he has, and you just listen to the want <\/em>that the kid has. Obviously, he had the injury, so it dropped him a little bit, but I\u2019ve really been impressed with his professionalism since he\u2019s been in this building. He\u2019s really locked in. He\u2019s doing everything he can do up to what he\u2019s allowed to do with the injury, and so that\u2019s all he can do.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got a great group of guys on that O-line, and coach Heck and [assistant offensive line] coach [Corey] Matthaei teaching him, so he\u2019s in a great spot. And I think we just gotta keep him going \u2014 arrow up. But man, his film is really good.\u201d<\/p>\n Simmons is expected to compete with veteran Jaylon Moore for the starting left tackle role. Moore attended Wednesday\u2019s practice but did not participate, wearing no helmet and a compression sleeve on his left leg.<\/p>\n On draft weekend, general manager Brett Veach noted that the team would bring Simmons along slowly \u2014 and so far, so good, according to everyone at the team facility.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle by little, he\u2019s been doing more and more with us out on the field,\u201d finished Heck. \u201cIt was nice [Friday] we were able to get him a few reps.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Another positive sign for the availability of Josh Simmons.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":67416,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67415","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n