NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - The Tennessee Titans needed the rest and reset from the bye week, and it especially benefitted Jeffery Simmons.
The Titans’ star defensive tackle returned to practice Thursday for the first time since injuring his hamstring against the Patriots on October 19.
Simmons exploded through drills and jokingly trash talked some teammates, returning to his usual mode of operation with ease.
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Despite missing the last two games, Simmons still leads the Titans in sacks with 4.5 this season.
“It felt great, man,” Simmons said of returning to practice. “Just to be able to get back out there. You know, I missed the one game here and there throughout my career, but missing two games and then a bye week, it’s like, I’m itching to get back out there.”
Simmons’ return will only help his fellow defensive linemen, as he notoriously draws double and triple teams from opposing offenses.
“It’s a big positive adding him back to the defensive line,” nose tackle T’Vondre Sweat said. “When he’s down, other people have to step up, and when we played against the Chargers, that’s what people did. I know the slide is going to help, so I’ve been practicing my 1-on-1’s.”
Tennessee has not yet indicated a game status for Simmons, but he upgraded from no practice Wednesday to a limited participant in Thursday’s session.
The Titans host the Houston Texans Sunday at 12 p.m. at Nissan Stadium.
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