Tyler's Take: Titans DT Jeffery Simmons Could Return This Season, But He Shouldn't

The Tennessee Titans will be without star defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons for at least a couple of weeks according to Mike Vrabel, but if the Titans are smart, Simmons shouldn't play the rest of the year.

The Tennessee Titans' loss to the Indianapolis Colts was more devastating than your typical division failure. Not only did the Titans' playoff dreams essentially die, not only did they lose their first game in Nashville while be swept by the Colts, not only did they lose the game due to multiple special teams blunder, but they also saw multiple star plays get injured.

Punter Ryan Stonehouse is out for the season after a leg injury, Derrick Henry seems to be fine after getting knocked in the head and sent to the locker room, but Jeffery Simmons falls in between. According to Mike Vrabel on Monday, Simmons will miss "a couple weeks."

The word "couple" usually suggests two, but I think Vrabel shouldn't be considered a liar if Simmons were to miss three because frankly, I think Simmons should miss all of the remaining games. This is not the time to be reckless.

The Titans face an almost certain loss against the Miami Dolphins in Week 14 and that would truly eliminate them from any playoff dreams. If the Titans can't make a deep postseason run, why would Simmons come back for two to three games, at maximum, when the best thing for this team is losing?

Simmons got a big contract before the season for 4 years, $94 million. This is year one of that deal. It would be ill-advised to jeopardize his ability to fulfill that contract's expectation by pushing him out on the field for some end-of-season victories that mean nothing. There is no reason to risk long-term injury on an already banged up knee.

Simmons will be the cornerstone this defense is built on and, in theory, when the Titans are good again, Simmons will be making key plays for them on the way. Making key plays in this season shouldn't be prioritized over future seasons when real success is possible.

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So to recap, the Titans aren't making the playoffs, which means it is better in the long run to lose games and jeopardizing Simmons' future by putting him out there off a bad injury at the end of the year would be negligence.

Of course Simmons is going to want to play. That is the kind of guy he is and the kind of leader you want in your locker room, but the team must do what is best for the future and for Simmons, even if he likely won't agree.

There are some who see it as money wasted for Simmons to sit, but those who say that aren't paying for Simmons' contract anyways, and the contract he signed was a multi-year investment. Pushing too hard for "profit" in year one while jeopardizing future value is unwise from a business sense anyways.

It may not be what some of the most optimistic fans want to hear, but Simmons not returning this season is not only the conservative choice health-wise, but it is the right choice for the betterment of the 2024 Titans. Who may actually be good enough to play for something worth coming back for.

Titans-Colts Related Stories

• WEEK 12 TITAN UP, TITAN DOWN: The Tennessee Titans had some disaster moments against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 13, but there were a lot of good moments mixed in as well leading to a diverse list of winners in losers in this week's Titan Up, Titan Down. CLICK HERE
• VRABEL FIRES AUKERMAN: The Tennessee Titans saw some disastrous moments against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 13 including two blocked punts and injuries to their three top players in Jeffery Simmons, Derrick Henry and Ryan Stonehouse. Mike Vrabel gave updates on all those on Monday, including firing special teams coach Craig Aukerman. CLICK HERE
• VRABEL SPEAKS AFTER LOSS: Special teams blunders and big plays allowed on defense made it hard for the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, and they let one slip away in a 31-28 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts. CLICK HERE