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Tennessee Titans: Jeffery Simmons’ debut is worth the wait

ByNicholas McGee|
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 20: Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans takes signs hats for fans before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Nissan Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 20: Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans takes signs hats for fans before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Nissan Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)

Jeffery Simmons registered a sack in his NFL debut, which proved worth the wait after the defensive tackle’s torn ACL earlier in the year.

Jeffery Simmons had to wait a long time for his NFL debut, but the first-round defensive lineman made the most of the opportunity when it finally came in the Tennessee Titans in their Week 7 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Titans stood firm backed up against their own end zone to force a Melvin Gordon fumble that proved decisive as Tennessee hung on for a 23-20 win.

While that stop is what the game will be remembered for, Simmons provided a feel-good footnote for the Titans, who improved to 3-4 to stay in the hunt in a tight AFC South.

Simmons was drafted by the Titans with the 19th overall pick, and their faith in the former Mississippi State star was partially repaid on Sunday.

As well as recording the first sack of his NFL career, Simmons — who likely would have been a top-10 pick had he not torn his ACL during the pre-draft process — filled the other areas of the stat sheet as he proved his debut was worth the wait.

Simmons also had four tackles, two tackles for loss and a quarterback hit. His performance showed that despite spending a long time on the sideline, he remains capable of causing disruption in the trenches.

Simmons now has the chance to play a pivotal role for the Titans in what is a crucial juncture for their hopes of a postseason berth.

The Titans will be favored to get to 4-4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but then have testing encounters with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs before taking on divisional foes in the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts.

Few will anticipate Ryan Tannehill leading the Titans to more than one win from the next four games. However, having a player of Simmons’ ability who can disrupt things in the trenches is a huge asset for any team and, if Sunday is any evidence, he could be the difference between a mediocre year and a postseason berth.

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