Patrick Mahomes is warned about the serious risk he may face in Week 1
Patrick Mahomes is set to return just nine months after tearing his ACL, but a controversial blocking technique from Josh Simmons has the Chiefs facing unexpected concerns.
The Kansas City Chiefs will begin the 2026 season with Patrick Mahomes as their starting quarterback in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos , just nine months after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). While his return is great news for Kansas City, it has also raised some concerns around the league.
The biggest concern is the short recovery timeline. Nine months is essentially the shortest window for a player to return from an injury of this magnitude, and in Mahomes’ case, there are questions about whether he is rushing the process to get back on the field as soon as possible and help the Chiefs rebound after their first losing season in more than a decade.
However, Mahomes’ physical condition is not the only concern. The other major issue is his protection, particularly at left tackle with Josh Simmons.
The 2025 first-round pick missed nine of 17 games during his rookie season and is currently dealing with a lingering back injury. A potential absence on Mahomes’ blindside would be a major blow to Kansas City’s offensive line. But even when Simmons is on the field, some analysts believe one of his favorite blocking techniques could put the quarterback at risk.
Josh Simmons’ technique raising concerns for a less-mobile Mahomes
Danny Heifetz of "The Ringer Fantasy Football Show" brought up the issue during Monday’s episode, September 7.
"I think Patrick Mahomes is gonna tear his ACL again," Heifetz said.
"Because you think he’s rushing back and he’s gonna re-injure it?" co-host Craig Horlbeck asked.
"That’s part of it," Heifetz responded.
Heifetz explained that Simmons often uses a technique known as the "snatch technique," in which the offensive lineman grabs a defender by the shoulder pads and throws him down to one side.
"So Josh Simmons, the left tackle, he has this move… where you kind of grab [the defender] by the shoulder pads and throw him down to his left," Heifetz explained. "It’s called the snatch technique."
"Gonna throw him into [Mahomes’] legs," co-host Danny Kelly added.
The concern has also been raised by Mitchell Schwartz , the former Chiefs right tackle and a key piece of the team that won the first Super Bowl of the Mahomes era.
According to Heifetz, Schwartz has publicly questioned whether Simmons should continue using that technique, believing it could put the quarterback at risk — especially because Mahomes could have less mobility this season after his injury.
