NASHVILLE — There’s less of Jeffery Simmons these days after his offseason weight loss, but both the Tennessee Titans defensive lineman and head coach Brian Callahan agree on what the three-time Pro Bowl selection needs to produce more of this year.
Sacks.
Simmons had just five sacks in 2024 — his fewest since his second NFL season in 2020 — and ranked third on the team behind linebacker Harold Landry III (nine), who was released in March, and linebacker Arden Key (6 1/2).
Worse, the Titans were tied with the Carolina Panthers for the third-fewest sacks in the NFL last season as each team had 32; the only teams with fewer were the Atlanta Falcons (31) and the New England Patriots (28).
Callahan said the goal is for Simmons, a former first-round draft pick, to do more than just affect quarterbacks; the aim is for him to take those players to the ground more often. The coach knows Simmons can be better in that regard, and he believes the player is driven to do just that.