The Kansas City Chiefs were without their starting left tackle Josh Simmons (back) in Week 1 against the best pass rush from 2025 in the Denver Broncos. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was in his return from a torn ACL and LCL that ended his season in 2025. Protecting Mahomes’ blind side was undrafted free-agent Kahlil Benson in his pro debut. All ominous signs, but Benson held his own.
Benson won a National Championship with the Indiana Hoosiers last season and went undrafted. The Chiefs invited him to a rookie minicamp, and he impressed them enough to warrant signing him. Benson is a 6-foot-6, 319-pound tackle that won the starting job at right tackle. When Simmons went down, the team moved him to left tackle for the Week 1 start.
The Broncos recorded a league-high 68 sacks last season, and Benson didn’t allow a single pressure in the first half. He was flagged for holding on a play that Mahomes ran in for a touchdown, but Mahomes ran it in again from 15 yards out on the next play.
“He’s strong, great job stepping in, and a great addition to fill in til we get the other guy back,” Mahomes said after the game.
Benson was lined up opposite of Pro Bowl edge rusher Nik Bonitto most of the game. Bonitto, who had 14 sacks last season, was held in check with two total tackles and no sacks. Running back Kenneth Walker III exploded for 173 yards on 23 rushes and a score and added another through the air to lead the Chiefs to a 31-10 victory over the reigning AFC West champs.
