Matt LaFleur says $1M gamble, former first rounder must earn staff's trust to make Packers roster
The Green Bay Packers had a preseason opener they'll want to forget. Fortunately, one of the biggest benefits of the preseason is its ability to reveal what needs fixing — fast. Linebacker Isaiah Simmons has been working hard, giving himself a real opportunity to make the final 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,' wrote Packers Wire's Zach Kruse.
Throughout the summer, Simmons has been proving to his teammates that he belongs.
'First, he can run,' Josh Jacobs said. '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, Simmons didn't make the most of his opportunity in Saturday's game — it was a bit of a reality check. Head coach Matt LaFleur's comments on his performance raise concerns about Simmons' standing on the roster.
'LaFleur said Isaiah Simmons 'got some good work in yesterday.' Played as much as he did because LaFleur said Simmons needs to prove coaches can trust him in Hafley's system,' reported The Athletic's Matt Schneidman.
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So far in his NFL career, Simmons has struggled to make a consistent impact. If he doesn't earn the trust of the Packers' coaching staff, his tenure in Green Bay could end up like his previous two stops — short-lived. While Simmons remains hopeful, a lackluster performance and potential trust issues could make his path to the 53-man roster a steep one.
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