Plenty of haze surrounded Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons after the team drafted him at No. 19 overall in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
The former Mississippi State Bulldog suffered an ACL injury in February, and many suspected he’d be out for the season.
But Simmons had a good rehab and recovered fast, making his first appearance for the Titans in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Titans dodged a 2-5 start to the season partially due to Simmons’ efforts, who finished the victory out with four tackles and a sack on Philip Rivers.
[lawrence-related id=22713]
On the season, Simmons now totals 12 tackles and a sack over just four appearances.
In his final season with the Bulldogs, Simmons recorded 63 tackles, 18 for loss, two sacks, four passes defensed and one forced fumble.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox made note of Simmons in one of his latest articles reflecting on the 2019 rookie class.
“Not only did Simmons make it back to the field by Week 7, but he’s been a difference-maker since entering the lineup,” he wrote. “He’s been dominant at the point of attack, stonewalling ball-carriers and making life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.”
[lawrence-related id=22690]
The Titans will look for Simmons to continue to grow as a piece of Dean Pees’ defense as they face the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars at 3:05 p.m. CT on Nov. 24 in Nissan Stadium.