NASHVILLE – Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 9.
Simmons, the team's first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has been a force in his second NFL season, and his value to the Titans was on full display in Sunday's 24-17 win over the Chicago Bears.
Simmons had three tackles, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery against the Bears. It was Simmons who forced Bears running back David Montgomery to fumble in the third quarter that resulted in Titans cornerback Desmond King scooping up the football and racing 63 yards for a touchdown.
In the fourth quarter, after Titans linebacker Jayon Brown stripped the ball from Anthony Miller of the Bears, Simmons recovered the ball for a takeaway. It was his first career game with a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. Simmons nearly had an interception on a deflected pass late in the contest.
Simmons became the first Titans defensive lineman to record a fumble recovery and a forced fumble in the same game since Jurrell Casey at Atlanta during the 2019 season.
The Titans face the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night at Nissan Stadium.
