NASHVILLE -- Tennessee Titans second-year head coach Brian Callahan can't praise defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons enough for how the three-time Pro Bowl selection has played this year with nearly a third of the regular season in the books.
Individual standouts have been easy to miss after the Titans opened the season with a four-game skid -- part of a 10-game losing streak that started last year -- before their 22-21 road win against the Arizona Cardinals last weekend.
And what he has done is even more impressive considering starting nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat has been out since getting hurt in the opener, a 6-foot-4, 366-pound vacancy that has left Simmons (6-4, 305) fighting through double teams to wreak havoc.
"The way that Jeff's playing right now, as I've said multiple times, is about as good as anybody in football," Callahan said, "and he continues to set the standard for what we're looking for from our football team, from an energy and effort perspective, and then is making a ton of plays."
Simmons, a former Mississippi State standout selected by the Titans with the No. 19 pick of the 2019 draft, and safety Amani Hooker, taken in the fourth round that year, are the longest-tenured players on Tennessee's roster. Simmons leads the team with 3 1/2 sacks, six tackles for loss and 20 quarterback pressures this season, and he's fourth in total tackles for Tennessee (1-4), which visits the Las Vegas Raiders (1-4) on Sunday to wrap up a three-game road swing before hosing the New England Patriots and former Titans coach Mike Vrabel on Oct. 19.
Raiders coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday that Simmons is really powerful and quick.
"He's got a playmaking ability about him that separates him from the crowd," Carroll said. "That's why we all know about him. It's why you asked about him first.
"He's a terrific player, so there's a number of things that we have to do to keep him from being a big factor in the game."
Simmons spent the offseason refining his habits for his seventh NFL season. He lost about 20 pounds by the end of the offseason program in June, aiming to be faster after having just five sacks in 2024, his fewest in a season since 2020.
He is sticking to the diet change that helped him shed some weight, and he has added the spice turmeric and other foods to help with inflammation and energy. He credits that consistency with his strong performance to start this season.
"I have been recovering much faster after games," Simmons said. "I'm feeling good going into these games."
Simmons had a season-high eight tackles, including 1 1/2 sacks, in Tennessee's comeback win against the Cardinals, who made the kind of self-inflicted mistakes that had dogged Tennessee for so long.
There wasn't much to highlight for the Titans in a 26-0 road loss to the previously winless Houston Texans on Sept. 28 -- doubly worse, it was in AFC South play to the two-time reigning division champions -- but Simmons showed off his speed when he burst past the center and sacked C.J. Stroud in just 2.09 seconds, the fastest sack in the NFL over the past two seasons. He crossed the line of scrimmage in less than half a second (0.32) after the snap, the fastest time by a defensive tackle this season.
Simmons also is one four defensive tackles in the NFL over the past five seasons to have at least 20 tackles, 3 1/5 sacks and six tackles for loss within the first five games of a season. The others are Javon Hargrave (2021), Aaron Donald (2022) and Ed Oliver (2023).
Hooker always thinks Simmons plays great from his perspective at the back end of the defense.
"It's just his preparation, his experience throughout the years," Hooker said of Simmons' strong start. "His preparation in the offseason, obviously whatever he was doing is transitioning to the in season great. He's been playing great."
In a roster move that could be a sign of impending change, the Titans have signed kicker Matthew Wright to the practice squad. Joey Slye made a 29-yard field goal as time expired to beat Arizona, but he was wide right on an extra-point attempt earlier in the game. Slye started 10-for-10 on field goals this season, but now he is 13-for-17 -- and apparently facing competition in Nashville.
Slye was among a handful of Titans who did not practice Wednesday after the team returned late Sunday night from Arizona. The others included cornerbacks Marcus Harris and L'Jarius Sneed, receivers Van Jefferson and Tyler Lockett, offensive lineman Blake Hance, outside linebacker Arden Key, defensive lineman James Lynch and running back Tony Pollard.
Counting the trip to Las Vegas, the Titans still have four games remaining before their open date -- a division road trip to face the Indianapolis Colts is sandwiched by visits from the Raiders and the Los Angeles Chargers -- so keeping their legs fresh in October could be a challenge.
Powered by Bowers?
When he spoke to reporters Monday, Carroll described the status of tight end Brock Bowers as "week-to-week" with a knee injury. On Wednesday, that status became "day-to-day" for Bowers.
"He'll do some walk-through stuff, and he'll be in the game plan knowing what's going on," Carroll said. "So if he gets a chance to play, then he'll be ready to go as best we can in that regard. I'm a little more optimistic than other people, and so I'm going day-to-day. Makes me feel better."
In addition, cornerback Eric Stokes (knee) returned to practice for the Raiders. He did not play during their 40-6 loss in Indianapolis last weekend.