The Tennessee Titans invested their first-round pick in former Mississippi State defensive end Jeffery Simmons in hopes of providing some extra strength within Dean Pees’ scheme.
Obviously, Simmons won’t be able to do it all on his own though.
That’s where veteran and four-time Pro Bowler Jurrell Casey factors in.
“Our saying is: ‘If you take care of the team, the team is going to take care of you’,” Casey said in a report by the team’s Jim Wyatt. “From day one, if he comes in and has his mind on right, I am willing to help him. My biggest thing is getting him under my wing early, and getting him going fast.”
All of Simmons’ comments after being selected at No. 19 overall have shown nothing but a willingness to work hard, and it’s clear he’s eager to get on the field as a Titan.
He’s noted Casey as a player he looks up to and wants to learn from — particularly in the leadership aspect.
“I know he’s one of the leaders of the defense. Eventually one day he may be gone, one day I may be gone. Just the traits of a leader that I can learn from him, that’s what my thing is right now. Just take in everything I can take in from him, him being a veteran.”
There’s no clear timetable as to when exactly Simmons will be able to return to action as he recovers from an ACL tear, and he’ll continue rehab until the team is confident he’s healthy enough to see the field.
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