Bears coach Ben Johnson said All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons is expected to play a substantial role when Chicago hosts Seattle on Monday, Nov. 2.
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Bears head coach Ben Johnson says newly acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons is expected to play a substantial role against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday, Nov. 2, though his snap workload could be somewhat limited.
Simmons was acquired by Chicago in a blockbuster trade from the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, Oct. 29, leaving the Bears only a few days to integrate him into their defensive plans. Johnson’s comments indicate the team intends to use Simmons immediately despite the shortened preparation time.
Johnson also suggested Simmons may not reach the unusually high snap counts he recorded in Tennessee right away. He said, “He might not be quite that high Week 1 for us,” while expressing confidence Simmons can handle significant playing time and adapt quickly to defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s system.
The workload context for Simmons in Tennessee included playing 87% of the Titans’ defensive snaps through his first seven games and 21% of their special teams snaps, figures described as among the heaviest workloads for NFL defensive tackles. Chicago’s expectation is that Simmons’ role will remain major even if it’s not a direct match to those Tennessee numbers.
Seattle will meet Simmons with a revamped offensive line. The Seahawks plan to start Quenton Nelson at left guard after acquiring him from the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday, Oct. 27, with Grey Zabel shifting to right guard.
Josh Jones is expected to replace starting left tackle Charles Cross, who has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald said the team must account for Simmons’ presence despite limited time with the Bears.
Nelson described the matchup as difficult to avoid, saying, “Man, can’t get away from this guy,” according to Seattle’s official website on Oct. 31.
The Bears will also welcome back pass rusher Montez Sweat after a two-game suspension, strengthening Chicago’s defensive front for the matchup.
Seattle enters the game 4-3 after a 20-3 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, while the Bears carry a 5-2 record into the nationally televised contest.
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