The Kansas City Chiefs are facing the possibility of a third straight game without rookie first-round pick Josh Simmons.

And it was almost a fourth game. The left tackle was deemed questionable with an illness — which may or may not be related to his current absence — right before the Monday Night Football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 6 but ended up playing all 64 snaps.

Simmons was not at practice Thursday, and there is no timetable for his return.

The Chiefs have not given much clarity on the situation. Quaterback Patrick Mahomes said he’s praying for him. When asked last week if it was a family situation, head coach Andy Reid said, “Well, personal.”

In his latest comments on Thursday, Reid gave an upbeat report but did not provide much more transparency.

“My update for you with Josh would just be there’s communication, and I’m not going to get in to all of it,” Reid said. “Everything’s positive. It’s not a negative situation. So he’s taking care of family.”

Simmons’ agent, Drew Rosenhaus, one of the more media-friendly representatives, has not responded to calls or emails from this reporter.

It is certainly understandable that Simmons’ coach and agent would want to protect their player’s privacy over what could be a serious matter.

But it’s perhaps noteworthy that Reid, one of the more mild-mannered coaches, snapped at Vahe Gregorian, a respected columnist with The Kansas City Star who has covered Reid since his days as an assistant coach at the University of Missouri.

Reid should have been in good spirits, considering the question came after the Chiefs’ most impressive win of the season — a 30-17 defeat of the Detroit Lions, a Super Bowl contender. Gregorian asked when the Chiefs were notified that Simmons would miss time.

Reid fired back, “Does it matter, Vahe?”

In Simmons’ absence, Jaylon Moore, who the Chiefs signed to a two-year, $30 million free-agent deal, has more then held down the fort while starting two games, including against the Lions when he played shortly after his wife gave birth to their baby.

Reid praised Moore’s play while filling in for Simmons. And so did Mahomes.

“He’s done a great job,” Mahomes said. “He’s been ready. He comes to work every single day. True pro, he comes to work with the mentality of being ready for that next snap.”

Although Moore has been more than serviceable, Simmons seems to be a great talent with the most upside, someone who could be a mainstay as Mahomes’ blind-side protector for years to come.

In fact, a play when he was not even blocking perhaps best illustrates his athleticism.

After 5-11, 186-pound Philadelphia Eagles defensive back Andrew Mukuba intercepted Mahomes and seemed to be on his way to a pick-six, the 6-5, 310-pound Simmons ran him down more than 40 yards down the field.

“I was behind him and I couldn’t keep up. So I’m glad he made the play,” Chiefs center Creed Humphrey said. “He’s freaky athletic.”

While fans and media await answers about the status of the athletic rookie, the hope is that it is nothing too serious regarding Simmons or his family.

But there is growing concern that it could be.