After not attending voluntary organized team activities, Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons has yet to participate in practice through two days of mandatory minicamp.
As speculation runs wild about this possibly being contract-related, head coach Mike Vrabel wouldn’t say one way or the other what’s going on with Simmons, only saying the defensive lineman is “unavailable.”
After practice on Wednesday, Simmons, who has been riding the stationary bike and working with trainers on a side field only, said his absences are part of a plan he constructed with Vrabel and trainer Todd Toriscelli. He also noted that he’ll be on the field at training camp.
Jeffery Simmons said the plan for him during minicamp is one that Mike Vrabel, Todd Toriscelli and he came up with. Simmons also said he plans to be out there on the field for training camp when it's time to report. #Titans
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) June 15, 2022
Simmons has one more year left on his rookie deal in 2023 after the Titans exercised his fifth-year option in May, and he’s due for an enormous pay day after a career year in 2021.
Despite the looming contract situation, Simmons says he’s letting his team handle that and is instead focused on playing football.
Jeffery Simmoks reveals that he has a team around him that will handle his contract conversation (if there is any) and he focused in getting better for football. #Titans pic.twitter.com/uacLgDgeYS
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) June 15, 2022
Head coach Mike Vrabel said that Simmons is doing just what the team expected him to do at minicamp.
#Titans' Vrabel: Simmons is doing exactly what we're expecting him to do.
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) June 15, 2022
In a situation that had no answers before Wednesday, Simmons’ comments are certainly a positive development. However, this situation bears monitoring moving forward. For now, all seems well between Simmons and the Titans with training camp rapidly approaching.
