The Kansas City Chiefs are deep into offseason workouts, and the stakes have never felt higher. After a disastrous 2025 campaign that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, the franchise is desperate for a rebound. But a new storyline has fans buzzing—and some quietly worrying—about the dramatic weight loss of first-round offensive lineman Josh Simmons.
Simmons, who battled through an injury-ravaged rookie season and finished the year on injured reserve, reportedly dropped to around 285-290 pounds. His stated goal is to hit 300 by the regular-season opener on September 14. To the untrained eye, that kind of drop for a 6-foot-5 lineman could spell trouble. But sources close to the situation say there’s a deeper, more nuanced story here—and it involves one of the most dominant offensive tackles of the last decade.
Former Chiefs All-Pro and Super Bowl champion Mitchell Schwartz unexpectedly weighed in on X, dismissing any alarm. “I think the better way to view this is more in the Tyron Smith physique world,” Schwartz wrote. “Tyron is a bit bigger overall but he was crazy lean coming out and when he was younger. Wouldn’t worry too much about a guy being jacked, lean, and not carrying excess weight.”
Insiders say Schwartz’s comparison is telling. Smith, a future Hall of Famer, was never the typical 330-pound mauler. He relied on elite athleticism and leverage—traits that allowed him to dominate for years in Dallas. Could Simmons be reshaping his body for the same reason? One longtime NFL scout we spoke with suggested that less bad weight could mean fewer soft-tissue injuries, which plagued Simmons last season.
But there’s another layer of intrigue. According to reports from Sports Radio 810 WHB, Simmons himself admitted he’s shedding pounds partly to stay healthier. That’s a direct acknowledgment of his rookie-year struggles—and a clear sign the Chiefs’ medical staff is taking a proactive approach. With Mahomes returning from his own ACL injury, keeping the pocket clean is nothing short of a franchise priority.
Fans should not panic, one team insider told us. If anything, the leaner version of Simmons could be more explosive and durable—exactly what Kansas City needs to protect their $500 million quarterback. The real test comes Week 1, but for now, Schwartz’s vote of confidence carries serious weight.
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