Tag: John Simon

55 days till Patriots season opener: Every player to wear No. 55 for New England

Here’s a list of every Patriots player to wear the No. 55 jersey number

The New England Patriots are officially 55 days away from their 2023 season-opener at home against the Philadelphia Eagles.

So we’re continuing our countdown series by listing every Patriots player that has worn the No. 55 throughout franchise history.

Burgeoning star linebacker Josh Uche currently wears the number, which was also worn by the late, great Pro Football Hall of Famer Junior Seau. Uche did the number proud last season when he exploded for a career-high 11.5 sacks.

There have been a total of 21 Patriots players that have worn No. 55, including other long-tenured standouts like Willie McGinest and Don Blackmon.

Here’s every Patriots player that has worn the number (via Pro Football Reference):

Titans designate Julio Jones to return from IR among 6 moves

Julio Jones is one step closer to returning to action.

The Tennessee Titans are one step closer to getting back wide receiver Julio Jones, as the team announced he has been designated to return from Injured Reserve.

Along with Jones, safety Dane Cruikshank and wide receiver Racey McMath have also been designated to return. This opens the door for each to return to practice, and eventually, the 53-man roster.

Tennessee desperately needs Jones to return and produce, as the team is very thin at wide receiver, with fellow wideout A.J. Brown on IR for at least the next two games.

In addition to those moves, the Titans waived outside linebacker John Simon from the 53-man roster, added linebacker Tuzar Skipper to the practice squad, and removed practice squad tight end Austin Fort from the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

With Fort removed, safety Kevin Byard is the only remaining Titans player on the list.

After having a bye in Week 13, the Titans will return to action in Week 14 when they host the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium, with kickoff set for noon CT.

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Titans rule out Dupree, activate Johnson from IR among handful of moves

The Titans have ruled out Bud Dupree for the Week 5 game against the Jaguars.

The Tennessee Titans made a handful of moves on Saturday ahead of the Week 5 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Outside linebacker Bud Dupree and offensive lineman Ty Sambrailo have both been downgraded to out. Dupree has now missed two games in a row after being active in Week 3 but not playing a single snap.

Earlier in the week, Dupree admitted he had suffered some setbacks in his recovery from a torn ACL. The 28-year-old did practice all week, though, including getting in a full session on Friday.

The Titans have activated wide receiver Marcus Johnson from Injured Reserve, making him eligible to play on Sunday.

In other moves, Tennessee has promoted outside linebacker John Simon to the active roster from the practice squad, while also waiving fellow outside linebacker Sharif Finch.

Also, the team has elevated defensive lineman Caraun Reid and safety Jamal Carter from the practice squad. Both players will revert back following Sunday’s contest.

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Titans sign OLB John Simon, DL Caraun Reid to practice squad

The Titans have reunited with OLB John Simon.

The Tennessee Titans have added two players to their practice squad, including outside linebacker John Simon, who was with the team during training camp.

The move coincides with the Titans being thin at outside linebacker, as Bud Dupree hasn’t played the last two games, and Derick Roberson and Rashad Weaver are both on Injured Reserve.

Simon, 30, spent time with the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, and New England Patriots before signing with the Titans in July. He was with the team through the preseason before getting cut.

In eight seasons, Simon has played in 97 career games, including 52 starts, accumulating 21 sacks, 277 tackles, and 25 tackles for loss.

Simon played under Titans head coach Mike Vrabel at Ohio Stater. Vrabel was the linebackers coach in 2011 before shifting to the defensive line coach the following two seasons.

Last week, the Titans signed outside linebacker Sharif Finch to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster before the Jets game.

Caraun Reid comes to the organization as a former fifth-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2014. The 6-foot-2, 292-pound defensive tackle spent three seasons in Detroit and one year with the then-San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, and most recently, the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Reid, 29, has 3.5 sacks and 55 combined tackles, including 11 for loss over 54 career games.

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Titans part ways with five players among seven roster moves

The Titans have begun trimming their roster down to 53 players.

The Tennessee Titans made a total of seven moves on Sunday afternoon with the deadline for final cuts just a few days away on Tuesday, Aug. 31.

The team announced that it has placed running back Brian Hill on Injured Reserve and center Ben Jones on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Jones is the eighth player on the COVID-19 list, and the ninth placed there this week.

In addition, Tennessee parted ways with five players, including releasing outside linebacker John Simon and safety Clayton Geathers, and waiving defensive back Nate Brooks, linebacker Cassh Maluia, and defensive lineman Freedom Akinmoladun.

With these moves, the Titans are now down to 72 players on their current roster. They must be down to 53 by Tuesday at 3 p.m. CDT.

The biggest surprise of the moves made was the waiving of Simon. Granted, it wasn’t an earth-shattering kind of surprise, but a surprise nonetheless, as Simon worked fairly high in the outside linebacker rotation.

His departure is a great sign for fellow outside linebackers Ola Adeniyi and Derick Roberson.

Hill’s injury, which happened during Saturday night’s preseason finale versus the Chicago Bears, fully opens the door for running back Mekhi Sargent to make the cut if the Titans carry a fourth back.

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Former Ohio State defensive end John Simon signs deal with Tennessee Titans

Former Ohio State defensive end John Simon has signed a deal with the Tennessee Titans according to an announcement from the team.

It’s been a day of former Ohio State defensive lineman inking deals in the NFL. First, a report from Adam Schefter surfaced announcing that Sam Hubbard had agreed to a contract extension with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Quickly followed by that, was an announcement by the Tennessee Titans that they have come to terms with former Buckeye John Simon. Contract terms were not immediately available, but it’ll be the fifth team Simon has played for over his eight-year career. Simon was drafted by the Ravens in the 2013 NFL draft, and also spent time with the Texans, Colts, and most recently, the Patriots.

During his NFL career so far, Simon has played in 97 games, with 52 starts. He’s recorded 277 tackles, and 21 sacks, 25 tackles for a loss, and two forced fumbles.

Now, Simon will get a shot to continue his career playing under another former Buckeye defensive end, Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel.

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Titans agree to terms with OLB John Simon, waive Tuzar Skipper

John Simon has played under Titans head coach Mike Vrabel twice before.

The Tennessee Titans made a pair of roster moves on Sunday, agreeing to terms with veteran edge rusher John Simon and waiving outside linebacker Tuzar Skipper, the team announced.

Simon, who has played standing up and with his hand in the dirt during his eight-year NFL career, has spent time with the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots.

He played in New England for the past three seasons, appearing in 43 games (30 starts) and tallying eight sacks, 14 QB hits and 114 combined tackles (70 solo, nine for loss) in that span.

Simon started in all 16 games for the Patriots in 2020 and finished with two sacks, four QB hits and 53 combined tackles (34 solo, one for loss).

The 30-year-old has spent two different stints playing under Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. Simon played his college ball at Ohio State when Vrabel was the linebackers and defensive line coach, and he was on the Texans when Vrabel was the linebackers coach.

With just days to go before training camp, Simon figures to factor into the equation as depth competition both at outside linebacker and defensive end.

Skipper was added to Tennessee’s practice squad in September of last year and played in four games (two starts) during his brief stint in Nashville.

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Chase Winovich had some glowing compliments for veteran John Simon

The former Michigan Wolverine is learning a lot from the vet.

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In his two seasons with the Patriots, John Simon hasn’t received a ton of praise from Patriots’ fans or the media. His pass-rush numbers (six sacks in 27 games) don’t exactly jump off the page.

However, where the former Ohio State Buckeye excels is against the run. Simon has been one of the Patriots’ best at setting the edge since his arrival in September of 2018.

He’s been setting a great example for some of the younger, inexperienced members of New England’s front seven, even those from a collegiate rival.

Second-year linebacker Chase Winovich, formerly of the Michigan Wolverines, has expressed admiration for Simon’s ability and mental aptitude on the football field.

“Yeah, John Simon is a bonfire expert at setting the edge,” Winovich told the media. It’s always cool playing with John because he’s a great leader in terms of his wisdom. First off, he’s actually brilliant when it comes to football. Secondly, he’s one of those guys you have to respect as a fellow football player because he’s a warrior. The dude goes out there and he just battles, and you can tell his toughness and his desire to help the team win. It’s an honor to play next to John Simon and be in the same room because he’s a great mind to pick his mind on different techniques and stuff. It’s great to have John Simon as a teammate.”

With all of the losses that the Patriots’ suffered in the linebacker room, through both free agency and opt-outs, having a leader who can explain the game like Simon will be imperative this season. All of these first and second-year players will look to him for answers on what to do on the field, on the sideline, and in the film room.

Simon may not be getting national recognition, but he’s earned the respect and appreciation of those around him, and that’s what matters most.

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OLB John Simon has high praise for Steve Belchick amid job title change

The linebacker had nothing but praise for his coach on Friday.

Praise continues to pour in for a revamped New England Patriots coaching staff. Linebacker John Simon sang the praises of new outside linebackers coach Steve Belichick on Friday.

For his part, Simon has proven to be dependable with the Patriots. Since being signed by New England in 2018, Simon has recorded 61 tackles and six sacks in 27 games, 15 of which he has started. In addition, he also recorded an interception last season.

Now, he figures to be a veteran on a linebacker unit that is undergoing a bit of an overhaul. So far, he likes what he sees from Belichick, who spent his first four seasons as a coach with the safeties.

It will be interesting to see exactly how Belichick leaves his stamp on the unit. If he’s anything like his father, the linebackers will be well-prepared and ready to go every Sunday.

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Submission Underground 12 results: Craig Jones submits Kevin Casey in empty grain silo

Grappling superstar Craig Jones kept his perfect promotional record in place with a submission win over Kevin Casey in the main event.

Grappling superstar [autotag]Craig Jones[/autotag] kept his perfect promotional record in place with a submission win over [autotag]Kevin Casey[/autotag] in the main event of Submission Underground 12.

Sunday’s UFC Fight Pass-streamed event took place in a converted grain silo in Oregon without fans present as a safety precaution due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Additional precautions included the elimination of all but one camera operator in the venue, lone commentator Chael Sonnen being positioned outside the venue, and cornermen also prevented from attending – making for an eerily quiet setting.

All competitors were also forced to wear long-sleeved rash guards and compression spats, and the cage was sanitized in between matches.

Jones dropped to a seated position at the start of the match featured, and Casey did his best to attack from the top without fully stepping into guard. After two minutes of a stalemate, the grapplers returned to their feet, where Craig again tried to drop down to a sweep. While he didn’t initially earn the position he was hoping, Jones kept the tangle tight, eventually inverting and rolling into a heel hook position to score a verbal submission from Casey at the 2:40 mark of regulation.

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In the night’s co-main event, Oregon-based MMA prospect [autotag]Ben Egli[/autotag] took advantage of his time in the spotlight, scoring an impressive submission win over longtime UFC veteran [autotag]Jake Ellenberger[/autotag].

Egli initiated a takedown in the opening second, but Ellenberger was able to stifle that attack and settle into top position. Egli remained active underneath, and a guillotine choke missed but allowed him to sweep to top. Once there, Egli’s chain grappling attack was simply too much for Ellenberger, who was always just a step behind as he defended the non-stop attacks.

Eventually, a scramble saw Egli drop back into a triangle position, but he instead focused on the arm and shoulder and earning a submission via Americana at the 3:30 mark of regulation.

Submission Underground 12 results include:

MAIN CARD

  • Craig Jones def. Kevin Casey via submission (heel hook) – Regulation, 2:40
  • Ben Egli def. Jake Ellenberger via submission (Americana) – Regulation, 3:30

PRELIMINARY CARD

  • [autotag]Juan Bernardo[/autotag] def. [autotag]Bobby Emmons[/autotag] via submission (rear-naked choke) – Overtime 2, 0:35
  • [autotag]Cris Lencioni[/autotag] def. [autotag]Logan Skinner[/autotag] via submission (rear-naked choke) – Overtime 1, 1:58
  • [autotag]Matt Stringham[/autotag] def. [autotag]Joe Levasseur[/autotag] submission (standing guillotine choke) – Regulation, 0:28
  • [autotag]Alex Larmey[/autotag] def. [autotag]Thomas Patrick[/autotag] via escape time – Full time
  • [autotag]Jake Smith[/autotag] def. [autotag]George Martinez[/autotag] via escape time – Full time
  • [autotag]Don Stoner[/autotag] def. [autotag]Lee Flores[/autotag] via submission (rear-naked choke) – Regulation, 2:34
  • [autotag]Cody Kenaga[/autotag] def. [autotag]John Simon[/autotag] via escape time – Full time