Tennessee Titans superstar defender Jeffery Simmons began the 2024 season in lackluster fashion. The focal point of Dennard Wilson's defense, Simmons, a two-time Pro Bowler, wasn't his usual productive self in Tennessee's opening three games. In three defeats, the interior defender accumulated just two pressures and one sack.
It simply wasn't enough production in a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league. Both the fan-base and local beat writers began questioning Simmons' true value to the defense, particularly after signing a four-year extension worth $94 million last April. With the losses mounting, every decision made by general manager Ran Carthon is analyzed and scrutinized.
Simmons did not feature in Tennessee's Week 4 victory over the Miami Dolphins, having been sidelined with the type of elbow injury that would have ended his campaign if he played baseball. He returned against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6, totaling a then-season-high four pressures in another defeat. Simmons was better in the follow-up games versus the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions, two additional losing efforts that brought his personal 2024 record to 0-6.
And then the Week 9 victory over the New England Patriots occurred on Sunday. Granted, the Patriots' offensive line is a bottom-of-the-league type of unit, both in the talent and actual performance departments. But Simmons was downright dominant, regardless of opponent, flashing the control-the-line-of-scrimmage skill set that makes him one of the league's most feared defensive tackles.
Pro Football Focus credited Simmons with producing a season-high eight pressures. It was the second-most pressures in a single-game performance for Simmons. He had a career-best nine in a primetime victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 9 of the 2021 season, arguably his best overall showing in a Titans uniform, one that featured a memorable three sacks.
Simmons tied a season-high mark of five tackles against the Patriots and recorded a sack for a second consecutive game. He also forced the Patriots' offensive line into an unheard of three holding penalties.
The Titans were sellers at Tuesday's NFL trade deadline, having dealt DeAndre Hopkins and Ernest Jones IV leading up. It's no surprise that the Titans responded with a firm "no" when teams called about Simmons, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini.
The Titans understandably weren't interested in moving Simmons at the NFL trade deadline. He's performing like a superstar defender again, one that improves the culture and locker-room morale by being a true buy-in player, even in a wasted season. Simmons should continue playing eye-opening football for the Titans down the stretch of 2024.
