KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Patrick Mahomes arrived at the Chiefs’ practice facility at 4:03 a.m. Wednesday, coffee in hand, ready to get a head start on the Denver Broncos. He figured he’d be the first one in the building. He was wrong.
Left tackle Josh Simmons, the 23-year-old rookie out of Ohio State, had already been on the JUGS machine for 45 minutes, his shirt soaked through, music blasting from a portable speaker. When Mahomes walked past the indoor field, Simmons didn’t even flinch—just nodded and kept firing routes to the ball boy.
“Man, I thought I was crazy,” Mahomes laughed later to reporters. “Then I see Josh out there like it’s noon. Kid’s built different.”
The moment instantly became locker-room lore. Travis Kelce posted a clip on his Instagram story with the caption: “Rook beat the QB to work. We’re in trouble, Denver.” By 7 a.m., the entire offense was buzzing about the first-round pick who’s already protecting Mahomes’ blind side like a five-year vet.
Simmons, still humble despite the hype, downplayed it. “I just hate being late,” he said, wiping sweat from his brow. “Back in Columbus, if you weren’t early, you were running gassers. Old habits.”
But this wasn’t just another rookie trying to make a good impression. Simmons has started all nine games at left tackle, allowing zero sacks in the last five weeks (PFF). His 86.4 pass-block grade ranks third among all rookie offensive linemen since 2020. And with the Broncos coming to Arrowhead on Sunday night—boasting a pass rush that’s tallied 28 sacks, third-most in the AFC—Simmons’ early-morning grind couldn’t be more timely.
Denver’s front, led by Zach Allen and newly acquired Baron Browning, has feasted on rookie tackles this season. They brutalized Cincinnati’s Amarius Mims for three sacks in Week 7 and hit rookie QBs 19 times combined in two games. Sunday will be Simmons’ toughest test yet.
Head coach Andy Reid didn’t hide his grin when asked about the 4 a.m. story. “That’s the kind of kid you want in the trenches,” Reid said. “Josh isn’t just holding his own—he’s raising the standard. Patrick trusts him. That’s everything.”
Mahomes echoed the sentiment. “When your left tackle beats you to the facility, you know you’ve got something special,” he said. “I’m sleeping good knowing 78 is out there.”
Kickoff is set for 7:20 p.m. CT on Sunday Night Football. The Chiefs (5-4) sit atop the AFC West by half a game over the charging Broncos (5-5), who’ve won four of their last five. Vegas has Kansas City as 7.5-point favorites, but the line moved two points after Denver’s defensive coordinator hinted they’d “unleash the hounds” on Mahomes.
One thing’s for sure: when the Broncos dial up the blitz, they’ll be looking left—and Josh Simmons will already have been up for 15 hours, ready to answer the bell.
The rookie isn’t just here to play. He’s here to dominate. And if Wednesday morning was any indication, Denver’s pass rush is about to have a very long night.
