The Kansas City Chiefs’ mandatory mini-camp begins in a week, with the status of a stud rookie up in the air.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ offseason work will go a long way toward quieting the doubts over the offensive line, which has several moving pieces in front of Patrick Mahomes.

After being sacked 47 times, which includes the playoffs, general manager Brett Veach signed Jaylon Moore, a four-year backup left tackle from San Francisco, and then drafted Josh Simmons in the first round.

But Simmons, who is likely seen as the long-term answer at the position, is coming off a knee injury that ended his final college season with Ohio State early.

However, Simmons is reportedly making good progress in his rehab, but with OTAs in the next couple of days, and then minicamp after that, ESPN’s Adam Teicher’s biggest question is how involved Josh will be.

“The Chiefs drafted Simmons in the first round this year to solve their long-standing problem at left tackle, even though he’s coming off a torn patellar tendon injury,” Teicher writes.

“If Simmons is a full participant, that bodes well for his chances to start when the regular season begins. If not, his situation remains one to watch. The Chiefs signed Jaylon Moore in free agency and he would step in if Simmons isn’t ready to play.”

Chiefs Ohio State OL Josh Simmons at 32 By Tony Fisher

To us, it feels like Moore is the starter until Simmons gets healthy, and then shows he can take over.

That might take a little longer than some might want with the Chiefs not likely to push Simmons in his rehab, after all, training camp is the real deadline the franchise wants for Simmons to be on the field.

If he can accomplish some things at OTAs and minicamp, then that’s great, but this is a marathon, not a sprint, with Week 1 as the primary target.

Simmons has time to get his body right, and when he does, he should be Patrick Mahomes’ blindside protector, but if not, that is why Veach signed Moore, as cover.

And it is cover that Kansas City hopes it doesn’t need.