Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs at the end of the first round, offensive tackle Josh Simmons has set his sights on overcoming last October's patellar tendon injury in time for training camp. Coach Andy Reid is optimistic about Simmons's progress, hoping he'll be ready to make strides on the field by late July.
In a testament to his tenacity, Simmons disclosed during the recent rookie minicamp that he's leaving no stone unturned in his rehabilitation process. “I attack rehab as hard as I can,” Simmons said, via Pete Sweeney of ArrowheadPride.com. “I want to be the most help I can possibly be when training camp comes around. There's nothing I can do to force it, just stay out of the way and work hard alongside the vets.”
Facing the rigorous demands of recovery is no small feat, and Simmons knows it. “You have to come in and attack it like hell every day,” he reflected. “It's all about going hard in rehab. That's the mindset required for something like this.”
Adjusting to a new offensive system adds another layer of complexity to Simmons's rookie year. While he's used to the schemes of now-Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly from Ohio State, the Chiefs' playbook presents a unique challenge. “The playbook isn't as complex as I expected, but it's different from Chip Kelly's,” Simmons explained, emphasizing the need for dedicated study.
Nonetheless, the Chiefs' fresh face remains optimistic and enthusiastic about what lies ahead. “Everything you could ask for as a football player,” he noted, expressing his excitement about joining the club.
