The Tennessee Titans used a first-round pick on defensive handle Jeffery Simmons knowing he may not have the ability to play this year after tearing an ACL in February.
Speaking to the media for the first time because the draft, Simmons said Tuesday following Titans minicamp practice that he’s not rushing the process, even if that means missing the whole 2019 campaign.
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“I am not rushing anything,” Simmons explained, via The Tennessean. “If I do not play this year, I’m fine with this, but my goal is to find healthy on my time and on this group’s time. There’s no time limit and once I can come back. Every day I come to work, I’m putting my mindset, you know,’I want to get back now.’ That’s the way I come to work everyday and try to improve.”
Simmons was estimated to go higher than the No. 19 spot where he landed with Tennessee before the ACL tear happened while training. If everything goes right, the standard timeline for recovery from this kind of injury would make a return potential at the end of the season. The Titans could also opt to offer him an entire year to rehabilitation.
The DT has yet to begin jogging and isn’t sure if he will be able to start that portion of the rehabilitation procedure.
The Titans created the Simmons choice with a mind on the future. Pairing the Mississippi State product with perennially underrated Jurrell Casey could give Tennessee a devastating duo. Eventually. For the time being, the rookie isn’t pushing the process.

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