NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee coach Brian Callahan can’t praise Jeffery Simmons enough for how the three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle is playing to start this season.
Simmons’ play is easy to miss after the Titans opened the season with a four-game skid before beating Arizona last Sunday. Yet Simmons has been playing alongside nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat since the opener, fighting through double teams to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.
“The way that Jeff’s playing right now, as I’ve said multiple times, is about as good as anybody in football,” Callahan said. “He continues to set the standard for what we’re looking for from our football team, from an energy and effort perspective, and then is making a ton of plays.”
The 19th overall pick in 2019 joins safety Amani Hooker as the Titans’ longest-tenured players. Simmons currently leads the team with 3.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and 20 quarterback pressures. He is fourth in tackles for Tennessee (1-4), which visits the Las Vegas Raiders (1-4) on Sunday.
Simmons spent the offseason refining his habits ahead of his seventh NFL season. He lost about 20 pounds by the end of the offseason program in June, aiming to be faster after tallying just five sacks in 2023 — his fewest in a season since 2020.
He credits a diet change that helped him shed weight, including eating more turmeric and other items to aid with inflammation and energy. “I have been recovering much faster after games,” Simmons said. “I’m feeling good going into these games.”
The 6-foot-4 tackle, listed at 305 pounds, is playing like he feels. He had a season-high eight tackles last week, including 1.5 sacks.
Simmons showed off his speed on September 28 in a loss at Houston. He burst past the Texans’ center and sacked C.J. Stroud in just 2.09 seconds — the fastest sack in the NFL over the past two seasons. He crossed the line of scrimmage 0.32 seconds after the snap, the fastest by a defensive tackle this season.
Simmons also is among four defensive tackles in the NFL over the past five seasons to have at least 20 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and six tackles for loss within the first five games of a season. The others include Javon Hargrave (2021), Aaron Donald (2022), and Ed Oliver (2023).
Hooker always thinks Simmons plays great from his perspective at the back end of the defense. “It’s just his preparation, his experience throughout the years,” Hooker said of Simmons’ start. “His preparation in the offseason, obviously whatever he was doing is transitioning to the in-season great. He’s been playing great.”
**Roster Move**
The Titans signed kicker Matthew Wright to the practice squad. Joey Slye made the winning field goal last week but was wide right on an extra point in Arizona. Slye started the season making his first 10 field goals but is now 13 of 17.
Slye was among a handful of Titans who did not practice Wednesday, with the team returning late Sunday night from Arizona. The others included cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed and Marcus Harris; running back Tony Pollard; wide receivers Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson; offensive lineman Blake Hance; outside linebacker Arden Key; and defensive lineman James Lynch.