Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons is unlikely to play in Week 1 with a lingering back injury, coach Andy Reid confirmed on Tuesday.Simmons, the team’s 2025 first-round pick, has been held out of practices since Aug. 18.“Josh is rehabbing. He’s working his tail off,” Reid said. “This isn’t something that is anything other than him having an issue with his back. It’s a matter of time here. But he continues to work hard with (head athletic trainer) Rick (Burkholder) and do his part there.”The situation makes for some drama Week 1 against the Denver Broncos’ vaunted defensive line on “Monday Night Football.” Reid said Tuesday that the team would likely go with Jaylon Moore at right tackle and Kahlil Benson at left tackle.Can the Broncos turn up the heat as Patrick Mahomes makes his return?Nick KosmiderBenson, an undrafted rookie out of Indiana, earned his way onto the roster after impressing as a tryout player during May’s rookie minicamp. Benson likely will be tasked with protecting the blind side of franchise quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who will start against the Broncos coming off knee surgery in December.“We’re comfortable with Kahlil on either side,” Reid said. “He’s been playing the left side, so we feel comfortable with that. We’ll end up playing the five best guys, and he’s one of them right now.”Benson’s immediate insertion into the starting lineup is a rare feat. Per TruMedia, only two undrafted rookies have started Week 1 at offensive tackle in their first seasons; the last was Cleveland’s Desmond Harrison in 2018.At Indiana last season, Benson played in 16 games and had 12 starts, with all those coming at right tackle. Per Pro Football Focus, Benson had no snaps at left tackle on offense in his four-year college career.“If he has to be the left tackle, then he’s the left tackle and we roll with it,” Reid said. “That’s just how it goes.”Benson struggled when playing right tackle in the second preseason game against Tampa Bay, which included giving up a pressure after he was outmuscled by rookie Rueben Bain Jr. Reid acknowledged after the game that part of Benson’s issue was getting off the snap quickly while the team was using a silent snap count.Reid said Tuesday he liked what he’d seen from Benson since.“He normally doesn’t make the same mistake twice, which I’ve mentioned before. That’s an important quality to have,” Reid said. “And he’s tough. It’s just, he doesn’t have a whole lot of reps under his belt at this level, being a rookie. But he’s very willing, and if he has to step in there and play — which it looks like he probably will — we feel comfortable with that.”It’s been known for a while that Mahomes would start the opener.“He hasn’t missed a day (of practice), and you guys have seen him out there, so you know what it looks like, him running around and doing his stuff,” Reid said. “Other than having a brace on his leg, everything looks normal. He’s running around the same way he’s always done and throwing the ball like he’s always done. So I think we’ll be fine there.”