The Tennessee Titans drafted Jeffery Simmons with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He's played 106 games for the Titans organization, and he will make his Chicago Bears debut against the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in Week 8.
It will be an eye-opening experience for Simmons, who spent almost a decade with one team before starting his NFL career. Something Simmons revealed during his Friday introductory press conference is that he hasn't played a primetime game since 2023. His Titans lost, 20-16, to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football on November 2, 2023.
Now, three years later, on the same day, Simmons will have the chance to showcase his skills under the lights at Lumen Field. But it's fair to question how much Simmons will play.
How many snaps can Bears fans expect Jeffery Simmons to play in his debut?
General manager Ryan Poles said during his press conference that he assumes he will play, but will leave it up to the coaches to decide how that snap share will work.
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was asked about this topic and said it will be a work in progress because the veteran coach must see how much Simmons “digests” and retains in a short time. Allen mentioned that because Simmons is a professional and studies the game, he should be able to “catch up pretty quickly.”
Allen also recognizes that a player like Simmons can free up others on the defensive line, so there is an incentive to get him up to speed so the entire defense can reap the benefits. The Bears’ defensive coordinator was also asked if he's ever had an interior defensive lineman like Simmons, and he genuinely said he doesn't know if he has had anybody in his long coaching career that he would “consider this dominant. That's why Allen described acquiring Simmons as “waking up on Christmas morning.”
Simmons was, of course, asked how much he thinks he can play during his Friday introductory press conference. He didn't know because he is still learning the playbook and game plan for the Week 8 game. However, Simmons also said he is “ready to roll” and wants to help his new team win a game.
On the Seahawks’ offensive line is someone he is extremely well known: All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson.
The Indianapolis Colts traded for Nelson earlier this week. The two All-Pro players have faced each other twice a year for the past eight seasons.
Read more: Byron Murphy II is looking forward to 'attacking' Bears offensive line on MNF
Simmons called Nelson a “great matchup” and looks forward to playing that level of competition. Well, Simmons will get another chance in Week 8. It may not be as many reps as Simmons is used to playing, but the Bears’ defensive lineman also doesn't need many reps to make an impact in a football game.
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