The Green Bay Packers made an offseason signing to give former first-round pick Isaiah Simmons a chance to prove he still has what it takes, despite a rocky start to his NFL career. Simmons has been showing flashes during practice and has received high praise about his chances of making the 53-man roster.
“But the Packers are giving Simmons a chance to focus on just one position at linebacker, and there's a chance he could provide something meaningful in a specific subpackage role. Also, it's clear he's the preferred backup option at linebacker, so if nothing else, Simmons looks like a good bet to make the 53 at this point in camp,” Packers Wire’s Zach Kruse wrote.
Simmons even earned a glowing analogy from starting running back Josh Jacobs.
“First, he can run,” Jacobs told reporters. “He can run. He’s kind of a unicorn in that position. We can put him out on guys in the slot. He can cover guys. Really, man, I just can’t wait to see him in pads. I want to see how physical he is. Obviously, I’ve played against him a couple of times, so I know what player he is — but it’s different when you see him like that.”
However, despite his solid practice performances, Simmons’ impact hasn’t translated well to the preseason games. After Saturday’s contest, it’s clear that Simmons isn’t in a great spot right now.
“LaFleur hasn't publicly said Simmons is under pressure, but he didn't need to. It has become painfully obvious. Simmons' struggles in coverage have become a real problem through two weeks of the preseason. Quarterbacks keep targeting him, and he has done little to stop it,” Lombardi Ave’s Freddie Boston wrote.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
This is a disheartening turn for Simmons, who has been practicing well. However, film and the eye test don’t lie. Simmons hasn’t found a permanent home in the NFL yet, and it doesn’t seem like Green Bay will be that place either.