Jeffery Simmons isn’t exactly hiding the game plan.
With the Eagles set to visit the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Nissan Stadium in Week 2, the Titans star made it clear where he thinks the pressure point is against Jalen Hurts: keep him from turning the game into a scramble drill. In Simmons’ view, the Eagles quarterback is at his best when he’s outside the pocket, and Tennessee wants no part of that.
“We just need to make Jalen Hurts be a QB,” Simmons said on Wednesday. “Stop his runs, make sure Hurts doesn’t get out of the pocket and make plays.”
That kind of talk can travel quickly into a locker room, and the Eagles could certainly file it away as motivation. It also fits a familiar NFL line of thinking about Hurts: he can beat teams as a passer, but his legs are what make him especially tough to deal with.
Simmons, though, is a big reason the Titans have a chance to make life difficult. He’s the kind of defender who can wreck a game on his own, and Philadelphia’s protection will be tested, especially with left guard Landon Dickerson on injured reserve. Second-year player Drew Kendall is expected to start on Sunday, which gives Simmons a matchup he can attack.
Hurts did plenty through the air in Week 1 anyway. In Philadelphia’s win over the Washington Commanders, he completed 14 of 25 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 46 rushing yards, including a 22-yard gain on third-and-18 that helped set up the game-winning touchdown.
He pushed the ball with confidence, throwing into tight windows and attacking downfield. That was a noticeable step forward from the version of Hurts that didn’t always look as sure of himself last year.
Still, the challenge for the Eagles in Week 2 is obvious: if Simmons gets consistent pressure, Hurts will have to keep proving he can beat a defense from the pocket alone.
In Other News...
Eagles Fans May Not Like Whats Coming To Tailgating
Changes to tailgating at the Eagles sports complex are expected to start on October 4, with hand parking set to become part of the routine. Under that system, attendants will direct vehicles into specific spaces, a shift aimed at curbing the oversized tailgate setups that have been spreading across multiple parking spots and creating traffic and parking headaches around the lots.
For fans, the bigger question now is how much those familiar game-day gatherings will change once the new setup is in place. An official explanation from the Eagles or the Sports Complex Parking Venture is still expected, but until that arrives, tailgaters are left reading the tea leaves on a move that looks designed to tighten control of one of the most visible parts of the pregame scene. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Carter Sounds Ready But Two Eagles Injury Questions Still Linger
Jalen Carter was back on the practice field with a cast on his right wrist and still sounded like a player expecting to suit up in the next game, a reassuring sign for an Eagles defense that leans on his presence in the middle. His availability matters because Carter changes how opposing offenses have to block up front, and Philadelphia has spent enough time this season dealing with health questions to appreciate any encouraging update, even if it comes with a little extra equipment.
The more unsettled part of the injury picture sits elsewhere, with safety Drew Mukuba out of practice and wearing a compression sleeve on his left leg, while edge rusher Jonathan Greenard continues working his way back from a pec strain. Greenard still has not made his Eagles debut, but the rehabilitation reports have been positive, leaving the team with at least some optimism as it waits to see how quickly the defensive pieces around Carter can come together. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Are Hiding A Line Decision Tennessee Could Expose
Landon Dickersons move to injured reserve has left the Eagles with a real early-season puzzle on the offensive line, and they have been noticeably tight-lipped about how they plan to solve it. With Dickerson sidelined by a bone bruise in his knee until at least Week 6, the discussion has shifted to who gets the next turn inside, with Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin and Fred Johnson all in the mix as the team tries to protect its interior and keep the offense on schedule.
The timing makes the secrecy a little more interesting, because Tennessee offers exactly the kind of front that can test an unsettled line. The Titans bring a tough interior rush led by All-Pro Jeffery Simmons and John Franklin-Myers, which means the Eagles may not get much time to keep this decision under wraps once the game starts. If there is a wrinkle here, Tennessee has the personnel to expose it. [Read more 🡒]