Chiefs Offensive Lineman’s Forgettable Preseason Showing Could Cost Him Starting Job to Rookie Josh Simmons
Kansas City, MO – August 16, 2025 –
The Kansas City Chiefs entered the preseason looking for stability along the offensive line, but instead they may have uncovered a brewing position battle after a rough outing from one of their young offensive linemen.
Kingsley Suamataia, drafted in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft (No. 63 overall), has long been viewed as a developmental prospect with the tools to become a future starter. Yet through two weeks of the 2025 preseason, his trajectory has taken a concerning turn.
In Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals on August 9, Suamataia saw limited action, playing around 10 snaps primarily at left guard. While he wasn’t disastrous, he failed to make a notable impact, and observers noted moments of discomfort against defenders like Baron Browning.
4 True Pass Sets and 2 Lost pass blocking snaps is a bad showing by Kingsley Suamataia…Byron Murphy is also awesome imo.
KS was awesome in the run game even still. https://t.co/7iEoE8YkSz— DMac Wake (@DMacWake316) August 16, 2025
Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, however, was far more troubling. On his first pass-protection rep, Suamataia was beaten cleanly, and he struggled throughout the night against Seattle’s edge rushers. The Kansas City Star described one play bluntly: “finished his last snap staring backward at his quarterback,” a snapshot of his difficulties in holding the line.
The performance has raised questions about his readiness to anchor a starting role. Rookie Josh Simmons, meanwhile, has turned heads with steadier preseason play, prompting speculation that the newcomer could leapfrog Suamataia on the depth chart if trends continue.
Reports from Arrowhead Addict and The Athletic suggest Suamataia must rebound in Week 3 of the preseason, when Kansas City faces the Chicago Bears on August 22. Improved pass-protection technique and reduced technical errors will be essential to keep his roster security intact.
For now, Suamataia is viewed as a depth option behind Simmons and veteran D.J. Humphries at left tackle, with the potential to shift inside to left guard to showcase his versatility. His positional flexibility may buy him time, but the pressure is mounting.
With Andy Reid and Kansas City’s veteran linemen guiding him, Suamataia still possesses the frame and upside that made him a Day 2 draft pick. The question, however, is whether he can turn raw potential into consistent execution before his window of opportunity closes.
