Friday's Injury Report -- Waiting For Word On a Player Not Listed

Top draft pick Jeffery Simmons' recovery from an offseason knee injury nears its conclusion

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Titans’ most compelling injury issue this week involves a player who is not even on the injury report.

Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, the Titans’ first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft practiced each of the past three days, which constitutes significant progress toward his NFL debut.

The All-American out of Mississippi State has been on the Non-Football Injury List since the start of the regular season due to a knee injury sustained in pre-draft training. He has yet to be added to the 53-man roster, which means his status for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Nissan Stadium, is not addressed on this week’s injury report.

“He’s starting to begin the next phase of the return to play, which is getting out there with his group, putting pads on, getting through (individual drills), doing pass rush, getting some team reps in,” coach Mike Vrabel said Friday. “We’ll make a decision here going forward and see where he’s at for Sunday. We’ll kind of see each day how he responds from the prior day’s practice.”

This week’s workouts were Simmons’ first. The injury, sustained in February, required surgery that caused him to miss all offseason and preseason practice sessions. Franchise officials have remarked often in recent months about the likelihood Simmons would heal quicker than most, but this week was his first to show whether or not he is a fast learner.

“We ask players to do what they’re capable of handling physically and mentally,” Vrabel said. “We’ll see where he’s at when he comes in (Saturday) and go on from there.”

The Titans have ruled out linebacker Sharif Finch and special teamer Chris Milton, and another linebacker, Jayon Brown, is doubtful. Linebacker Cameron Wake, who missed the last two games with a groin injury, is one of three players listed as questionable.

The complete Titans-Chargers injury report for Friday:

TENNESSEE

Status

Out: Sharif Finch, OLB (shoulder); and Chris Milton, CB (calf).

Doubtful: Jayon Brown, LB (groin).

Questionable: Cameron Wake, OLB (hamstring); Delanie Walker, TE (knee); and Reggie Gilbert, OLB (knee).

To be determined: Daren Bates, LB (ankle); Jack Conklin, T (ankle); Jurrell Casey, DT (shoulder); Rodger Saffold, G (back); and Kenny Vaccaro, S (quad).

LOS ANGELES

Out: Nasir Adderley, S (hamstring); Justin Jackson, RB (calf); Justin Jones, DT (shoulder); and Brandon Mebane, NT (knee).

Doubtful: Melvin Ingram, DE (hamstring).

Questionable: Michael Badgley, K (groin).

To be determined: Thomas Davis, LB (not injury related); Andre Patton, WR (quad); Denzel Perryman, LB (ankle); and Trent Scott, T (ankle).