Josh Simmons is fighting to land the starting left tackle job for the Kansas City Chiefs.
That’s both a figurative and literal assessment of the former Ohio State standout’s first NFL training camp, which includes Simmons already making noise with aggressive blocking that sparked a post-whistle fight in practice July 29 that was caught on video.
Simmons blocked rookie defensive end Ashton Gillotte before the whistle sounded to end the drill. The two started to swing at each other after Simmons finished off his block on Gillotte, a third-round pick from Louisville. Gillotte took exception to it, gave the towering former Buckeyes a shove and Simmons retaliated with a straight right to the facemask.
The two grabbed each other for a short wrestling match before Gillotte knocked Simmons’ helmet off with another shot to the facemask. Teammates broke it up before things escalated further.
Simmons, selected 32nd in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, has a chance to open the season as the Chiefs’ starting left tackle. An injury to starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor forced regular starting left tackle Jaylon Moore to flip sides, putting Simmons into the top tackle spot on the left side.
Should he play well in that role, it could become a full-time spot. Last season for Ohio State, Simmons sustained a knee injury that knocked him out of the Buckeyes’ lineup midway through their postseason run to the 2025 College Football Playoff championship.
The Chiefs may have gotten a steal at the end of the first round with Simmons, who stands 6 feet 6, 330 pounds. Tackles with that kind of size and Simmons’ other measurable assets usually go much higher, but the injury prompted a drop to a draft slot where the Chiefs happily took him as a new protector of superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Dispatch reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Watch: Former Ohio State OL Josh Simmons punches facemask of Kansas City Chiefs teammate
Reporting by Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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