CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals caught a major break ahead of Sunday's matchup with Tennessee when the Titans traded All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears on Thursday. The news got even better for Cincinnati on Friday when Tennessee officially ruled out leading receiver Carnell Tate with a shoulder injury.
Simmons was one of Tennessee's best players and is among the most disruptive interior defensive linemen in the NFL. The Titans sent him to Chicago in exchange for first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2028, along with a fourth-round selection in 2027. The Bears also received a fifth-round pick in the 2028 draft.
The four-time Pro Bowl selection earned first-team All-Pro honors last season after recording a career-high 11 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. His ability to get to the quarterback and disrupt running plays made him a player Cincinnati would have needed to account for on every snap.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor spoke highly of Simmons on Wednesday, before the trade was announced, describing his ability to beat both single and double-team blocks and make plays against the run and pass.
His departure removes a major challenge for Cincinnati's offensive line, especially center Ted Karras and guards Dalton Risner and Dylan Fairchild. Simmons' absence is welcome news for quarterback Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
Tennessee still has capable defensive linemen, including John Franklin-Myers and Solomon Thomas, but losing Simmons changes the complexion of its defensive front. Franklin-Myers is also questionable for Sunday with a groin injury, potentially leaving the Titans without another key contributor.
The Titans claimed defensive tackle Jonah Laulu off waivers from Las Vegas earlier this week and promoted Timmy Horne to the active roster Friday. Both could help fill the void left by Simmons, although replacing a player of his caliber isn't going to happen no matter who the Titans sign.
On the other side of the football, Tennessee will be without Tate, who missed practice Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday because of a shoulder injury. The former Ohio State receiver was officially ruled out Friday afternoon, ending any possibility of his return to Ohio for Sunday's matchup.
Tate, the fourth overall selection in April's NFL Draft, leads Tennessee with 34 receptions for 413 yards and a touchdown through seven games. His absence takes away quarterback Cam Ward's most productive receiving target and another important part of the Titans' offense.
Tennessee could also be without veteran receiver Calvin Ridley, who is questionable with a hip injury. Running back Tyjae Spears has already been ruled out with a knee injury, further limiting the offensive options available to Ward.
For Cincinnati, the developments come at an important point in the season. The Bengals are 4-2 following last Sunday's 35-13 victory over Baltimore and have an opportunity to improve to 5-2 before traveling to Madrid to face Atlanta next week.
The Titans enter Sunday's game at 1-6, and the loss of Simmons and Tate makes their challenge even more daunting. Cincinnati still must execute against a Tennessee team with plenty of capable NFL players, but there is little question that the Bengals will be facing a considerably different opponent than the one they began preparing for earlier this week.
Sunday's game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET at Paycor Stadium.
