The Tennessee Titans suddenly have a very different look up front after sending superstar defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears on Thursday, and the fallout created a clear opening for Jonah Laulu.
Tennessee answered the Simmons trade by claiming Laulu off waivers, a move that came with real competition. The Titans were one of five teams to put in a claim for the former Raiders defensive tackle, according to Jordan Schultz, with the Jets, Colts, Patriots, Dolphins and Texans also in the mix. Tennessee got him because it held the highest waiver priority.
Laulu arrives at a time when the Titans’ defensive front is already being reshaped. The team had previously released Jordan Elliott after an alleged incident at the facility, removing one of its more reliable run defenders from the rotation.
Before Elliott’s incident, Tennessee was allowing 114 rushing yards per game. In the two games since, that number has climbed to 174 rushing yards per game.
Losing Simmons only makes the challenge steeper.
That’s why Laulu matters now. He’s coming off a 51-tackle season in 2025, and this year he has been solid in his role even if the production hasn’t jumped off the page. The appeal for Tennessee is straightforward: he can slide into a situation where he won’t be asked to do more than he can handle.
The Simmons trade also points to a broader shift in how Robert Saleh and Aaron Whitecotton may use the defensive line. Rather than leaning on a few players for heavy snap counts, the Titans are expected to lean more into a true platoon, rolling out waves of linemen instead of asking individuals to carry 75% or more of the workload.
That setup could suit Laulu well. He can help on early downs alongside Nazir Stackhouse, while Solomon Thomas, Keldric Faulk and John Franklin-Myers handle more of the pass-rushing work on obvious passing downs. It could also create a chance for rookie Jackie Marshall, whom the Titans may as well take a look at with the season trending the way it is.
Laulu is 26, which gives Tennessee a player who could fit into the rebuild if he makes the most of this chance. If he doesn’t, the Titans still took a swing at a sought-after waiver claim without giving up anything to get it.
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For the Titans, that kind of early shift matters because the draft board can change quickly, and quarterback-needy clubs are already being sorted into rough landing spots based on current roster needs and recent trades. Tennessee is the sort of team that will be watching this race closely, even if the order is far from settled, since the next year and a half of development and evaluation could still redraw the entire picture before the 2027 draft arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Trade Suddenly Raises An Uncomfortable Question About What They Gave Up
Jeffery Simmons move from Tennessee to Chicago did more than shake up the Titans roster. It also put a spotlight on how quickly the trade market can shift when a player of that caliber becomes available, especially after the Titans had initially denied they were looking to deal him. The situation has only added to the sense that this was not a straightforward transaction, but one shaped by timing, leverage and the kind of behind-the-scenes relationships that often decide where star players land.
Reports that Giants coach John Harbaugh directly reached out to Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk to try to land Simmons only deepen the intrigue around what Tennessee ultimately accepted. In a league where personal connections can matter as much as draft capital, the obvious question now is whether the Titans truly got the best possible return. For a team trying to manage both its present and future, that is the uncomfortable part of the story that lingers after the deal is done. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Scramble To Patch Two Problem Spots Before Bengals Game
The Titans had to make a pair of quick practice-squad moves heading into Sundays game at Paycor Stadium, elevating wide receiver Xavier Restrepo and punter Thomas Morstead for the Week 8 matchup with the Bengals. The timing speaks for itself, with rookie Carnell Tate ruled out because of a shoulder injury and starter Tommy Townsend sidelined by a left knee injury.
Restrepo gives Tennessee another option at receiver at a time when the group is already being reshuffled, while Morstead steps in to handle punting duties if Townsend cannot go. For a team trying to keep things steady on the road, the special teams adjustment is just as important as the depth chart change on offense, and it leaves the Titans with a couple of moving parts to sort out before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]