Andy Reid says he's confident undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson can protect Patrick Mahomes

Published September 8, 2026 02:20 PM Patrick Mahomes has recovered well enough from last year’s torn ACL to start on Monday night. Keeping Mahomes healthy will fall to an undrafted rookie.Chiefs left tackle Kahlil Benson, an undrafted rookie from Indiana, is expected to start on Monday night and assume the massive responsibility of protecting Mahomes’ blind side. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said today that Benson has proven in training camp and the preseason that he’s up to the task.“We try to play the five best guys,” Reid said, via ESPN. “We’re comfortable with Kahlil on either side and he’s been [practicing] the left side. He’s doing a nice job with it. If he has to be the left tackle, he’s the left tackle and we roll with it. That’s how that goes.”Josh Simmons, who was expected to be the starter at left tackle this season, suffered a back injury three weeks ago and is unlikely to be cleared for Monday night’s opener.