Jeffery Simmons Encourages Teammates on the Titans' Roster Bubble as Final Preseason Game Approaches

The Tennessee Titans final preseason game represents a last shot to hold onto an NFL career for some of the young players on the roster. Jeffery Simmons gave them his best advice after Wednesday's practice.

The final game of the 2023 preseason is upon us and the Tennessee Titans will be using this game to put the final touches on their roster. That means there are quite a few young players fighting for a spot on the team, or for their NFL lives.

One of the most important things these young players on the bubble need to keep in mind as they take on the New England Patriots on Friday is that the game isn't just an audition for the Titans, but the rest of the NFL as well.

While All-Pro defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons has never been in this situation due to his drafted status, he is still trying to remind his younger teammates of the reality and how to handle their business. 

"A young guy comes to me I tell them, don't worry about tomorrow, worry about today." Simmons said. "Each day you step into this building, you want to do something to grab the eye of not just your teammates or the people upstairs, just everyone around because you got 31 other teams looking. Everyone is watching the same game."

"These young kids coming in, I was once in that chair as well, being a young guy. I wouldn't say I was trying to fight to make the team because I was drafted here, but I know that feeling because you can hear the way they talk sometimes, just they don't know. Only thing you can do is control what you can control. That's just how I go about my life, control the controllables."

Effort is controllable. Your understanding of your responsibilities is controllable. There are plenty of things that don't have to do with the outcome of the play, good or bad, that players can control on their own. 

If you do those things, you have a great chance to impact winning. Setting yourself up for success is half of the battle of obtaining it. Simmons knows that the Titans need players like that and head coach Mike Vrabel would notice.

"That's one of the things I tell them, just focus on today and they have another opportunity this coming up week, it's Friday, to show that they deserve to be here and quite frankly they need to be here. That's kind of the message, even with (Mike) Vrabel. Give them a reason to let them know that I deserve to be on this team. You need me to win. I'm excited for a lot of these young guys and however they can help us, it'd be great, but guys don't make it here, I'm sure they'll be somewhere else and wish them best of luck. Right now, just focus on Friday and hopefully they can be here."

Simmons finishes his quote where he started. Another reminder that even if it isn't the Titans, a lot of these players who will be cut could have opportunities elsewhere if they take care of what they can control. 

Watching the battle take place on Friday and seeing who emerges from the carnage in a better spot will be fascinating. Jeffery Simmons will certainly be watching as well.

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