Chiefs LT Ruled Out Just 90 Minutes Before Kickoff vs. Lions – “No Game Is More Important Than Family”
Chiefs LT Ruled Out Just 90 Minutes Before Kickoff vs. Lions – “No Game Is More Important Than Family”
Kansas City, Missouri
Just over an hour and a half before kickoff of the Week 6 matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions, head coach Andy Reid’s team made an unexpected roster adjustment that caught everyone off guard. The team announced that its starting left tackle (LT) had been ruled out due to “personal reasons,” leaving fans and analysts puzzled right up until game time.
The player had participated fully in practice throughout the week and was listed among the expected starters. There were no reports of injury, illness, or disciplinary issues — making the late decision all the more surprising.

According to NFL Network, the reason had nothing to do with football. Instead, it stemmed from a family emergency that required the player’s immediate attention. Sources confirmed that his mother had fallen seriously ill in California, prompting him to leave Kansas City immediately to be by her side.
A reporter who caught him at the airport shared a quiet but powerful quote that quickly resonated throughout the NFL community:
“No game is more important than family. My mom has always been there for me through every moment — from when I was just a kid dreaming of playing football to standing on an NFL field. Now she needs me, and there’s nowhere else I should be. I love this game, but my family is what gives me the strength to play it.”
His absence forced the Chiefs to make last-minute adjustments on the offensive line, with Wanya Morris and Jaylon Moore stepping up as replacement options. Despite the setback, teammates and coaches voiced full support for his decision, calling it “the right choice for the right reason.”
Patrick Mahomes reportedly reached out with words of encouragement, while Andy Reid addressed the situation after the game: “Family always comes first. We fully support him and wish the very best for his mom.”
Only when the team’s final inactive list was released did his identity become known — it was Josh Simmons, the Chiefs’ starting left tackle, who chose love and responsibility over competition, proving that sometimes the greatest victories happen far away from the field.











