Isaiah Simmons focusing on linebacker with Packers after playing multiple positions at prior stops
After trying to fill multiple roles during his first five seasons, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 draft hopes he has found a home with his new team.
'I think that this is probably where I've been appreciated the most,' Simmons said Thursday. 'Not that I haven't been appreciated at other places, but I feel like I've been categorized in a lot of other places and put in a box that doesn't define me. Here they're letting me be myself, letting me flourish, letting me grow in one place before I grow in a whole bunch of other places.'
Simmons, 27, has alternated between linebacker and defensive back without really thriving at either spot. After playing primarily linebacker with the Arizona Cardinals his first three seasons, Simmons spent more time in the secondary the last two years with the New York Giants.
Now he's back at linebacker and showcasing the athleticism that made the former Clemson star a highly touted prospect. The Packers believe he can benefit from sticking to one position.
'How quickly he can pick everything up and how quickly he can get everything down will determine how much we can really do with him, but I think he's off to a really good start,' defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said.
Simmons likes the opportunity to focus on playing linebacker.
'My versatility has kind of been, kind of not like a downfall, but kind of a downfall because everybody just expects me to be the All-Pro at 15 positions,' Simmons said. 'This league's hard enough to dominate at one position.'
Simmons also had to deal with the scrutiny of being a top-10 overall draft pick.
Although Simmons has been one of only six defensive players in the league to appear in all 84 regular-season games over the last five years, his playing time dipped recently.
He was on the field for only one-third of the Giants' defensive snaps in 2023 and just 17% of them last year.
'Everybody wants to say what they want to say,' Simmons said. 'At the different positions I played, some people think I ain't tough. Some people think I don't want to be physical. Some people say I can't cover. Everybody's got something to say, but I don't really care what nobody's got to say. At the end of the day, I know who I am.'
His new teammates and coaches are saying good things about the way he has performed at linebacker in camp.
'He's kind of a unicorn at that position,' running back Josh Jacobs said. 'He can run. We can put him out on guys in the slot. He can cover guys.'
The 6-foot-4, 238-pound Simmons described how he has a unique set of skills that can help him succeed as a linebacker.
'My length, it allows me to get to people before they can get to me,' he said. 'That helps a lot with playing down on the line, setting edges and whatnot. I've also got the speed of a DB or a receiver or whatever you want to say. I feel like I'm kind of unorthodox at the (linebacker) position, and it allows me to win in various ways.'
All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney played alongside Simmons with the Giants in 2023.
'He's making plays everywhere out there on the field, and obviously he can play everywhere on the field,' McKinney said. 'He can play backer, he can play in the box, he can cover guys, so he's going to be a huge asset for our team and for our defense.'
Simmons said he was early in the free agency process when McKinney advised him Green Bay might be an ideal fit.
'Actually the first thing I said when I visited here was, 'Dang, this gives me a Clemson feel,'' Simmons said. 'As small of a town as it is, I really think more eyes are on you because everybody knows who you are and whatnot.'
NOTE: Packers coach Matt LaFleur said RB MarShawn Lloyd's groin injury is 'not going to be a long-term deal' but added that the 2024 third-round pick likely won't return this week.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hernández: Lakers' commitment to Luka Doncic raises questions about LeBron James' role
Near the conclusion of the news conference to address his contract extension with the Lakers, Luka Doncic detailed the training program that contributed to his striking weight loss. When he was finished talking about how he lifted weight and refrained from playing basketball for a month, general manager Rob Pelinka made it a point to offer some thoughts. 'Luka's done all the work,' Pelinka said, 'but it's important to have a support system around you to help you do the great work.' Pelinka went on to praise Doncic's trainer, Anze Macek, and physiotherapist, Javier Barrio. He remarked how Macek and Barrio have 'worked seamlessly' with the Lakers' staff. He name-checked Doncic's agent, Bill Duffy, and business manager, Lara Beth Seager. Read more: 'Just the beginning': Luka Doncic on why he agreed to a three-year, $165-million contract extension These weren't garden-variety compliments. This was a pledge of allegiance. Shortly after Doncic was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers last season, stories emerged about tensions between his inner circle and former team. Pelinka's words contained an indirect message: We will support you the way Mavericks didn't. This is your team. The commitment was formalized on Saturday, the Lakers signing the 26-year-old Doncic to a three-year, $165-million contract extension. The news conference ended with seven Lakers players and coach JJ Redick emerging from the back to take a picture with Doncic as he held up his jersey. A couple of the players, center Deandre Ayton and guard Marcus Smart, were personally recruited to the team by Doncic. Doncic is now officially the center of the Lakers' universe, and as inevitable as that seemed from the moment Pelinka acquired him, the dynamic intensifies a question that was initially raised last season: What does this mean for LeBron James? Too much shouldn't be made of James' absence from the news conference on Saturday, as Austin Reaves wasn't there either. However, James is under contract for just one more season and Doncic for at least three more, and how will James deal with not being the focal point of his franchise? James is a player who is used to exercising boundless influence over teams that employ him, enough to where the 17-time NBA champion Lakers drafted his undersized son. While the Lakers once had visions of Anthony Davis replacing James as the face of their franchise, the imaginary baton was never passed. The Lakers didn't make as big a deal of Davis' extension two years ago as they did with Doncic's on Saturday, for which a Doncic-themed photo gallery was erected for the news conference. There's an uneasy feeling about the situation, in large part because James hasn't clearly communicated his thoughts. When James exercised his player option for the upcoming season, his agent said that because James wanted to play for championships and the Lakers were 'building for the future,' their camp wanted 'to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career.' The 40-year-old James will have a say in what happens, as his deal includes a no-trade provision. Asked how James viewed the Lakers' summer and whether he thought James would retire with the team, Pelinka replied, 'So all the interactions we've had with LeBron and his camp, [agent Rich Paul] in particular, have been positive and supportive. So very professional and Rich has been great. The dialogue with him has been open and constant. 'In terms of LeBron's career, I think the number one thing we have to do there is respect he and his family's decision in terms of how long he's going to play. I think that's first and foremost and we want to respect his ability to come up with his timetable on that. I think that's really important, but if he had a chance to retire as a Laker, that would be great." In other words, there wasn't enough clarity for Pelinka to be able to say with any degree of certainty, yes, he thought James would retire a Laker. Doncic accepted an offer from the Lakers to be their next headliner. That was an important development for them. But for them to be able to properly showcase their next act, they will have to close their previous one, whether it's by him accepting a supporting role or deciding to take his talents elsewhere. Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lionel Messi exits Inter Miami match with apparent injury
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lionel Messi exited Inter Miami's Leagues Cup match against Necaxa on Saturday night after suffering an apparent injury in the opening minutes. Messi appeared to get tripped going for the ball in the eighth minute, fell to the ground and slammed his fist in frustration before walking toward midfield as play continued. He then sat on the pitch as trainers came and worked on his upper leg/right thigh area for a couple of minutes. He was subbed out in the 11th for Federico Redondo and immediately headed to the locker room. Miami went up 1-0 a couple minutes later on a goal by Telasco Segovia, which was assisted by Rodrigo De Paul. ___ AP soccer: The Associated Press
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Top of the order breaks out as Mets snap losing streak with 12-6 win over Giants
The Mets snapped their losing streak with a 12-6 win over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday afternoon at Citi Field. Here are some takeaways... - One of the biggest reasons behind the Mets' four-game losing streak coming into the day was the lack of production from the top of their order. The Fab 4 of Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso have been struck in brutal slumps at the plate -- but some of them delivered on Saturday. - Alonso got the scoring started by crushing a 1-2 Kai-Wei Teng fastball for a three-run homer in the bottom of the first. The big man has now left the yard on back-to-back days to bring him just two away from tying Darryl Strawberry's all-time franchise record. - The Mets' offense was relatively quiet after Alonso's homer, but then Nimmo and Lindor took things over. The bottom of the order started rallies in the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings and the dynamic duo at the top came through each time to deliver run-scoring hits. Nimmo, Lindor, and Alonso finished the day a combined 8-for-12 with five runs scored and 10 RBI. - Cedric Mullins played a part in each of those rallies, picking up his first Met hit in the fourth before stealing second and then scoring on Nimmo's RBI hit. The CF had a chance to make another highlight reel play in the first, but he just mistimed his jump. - Brett Baty was on-base three times with two walks and a hit, he also scored each time. - Kodai Senga struggled mightily for the fourth consecutive outing since returning from the IL. The right-hander worked around a pair of baserunners in the top of the first, but the Giants were able to get to him in each of his next three innings of work. He loaded the bases with a double and two walks in the second, but limited the damage to just one run with some help from a double play. Senga appeared to put together his first clean inning in the third, but he issued a two out walk and then former Met Dom Smith evened things up with his third homer of the season. San Fran then took their only lead in the fourth on a Jung Ho Lee double and Grant McCray single. Senga was able to get through that frame without any further damage, but he still closed his book with four runs allowed on five hits and three walks with four punchouts across just four innings of work. - With the new depth in the bullpen, Reed Garrett was brought in behind Senga in the fifth. After Garrett put together a clean inning and then retired the first batter in the sixth, Gregory Soto came on and struck out back-to-back left-handed hitters. Tyler Rogers threw a scoreless inning in his first outing as a Met, then with the score out of hand Brooks Raley put up a zero in the eighth, and Rico Garcia allowed a two-run homer but put the finishing touches on the victory and strong effort from the revamped bullpen. - With the Phillies falling to the Tigers, the Mets have jumped back into first place in the NL East. Game MVP(s): Top of the order Nimmo, Lindor, and Alonso carried the weight for the offense in this one. Highlights What's next Frankie Montas takes the mound against rookie Carson Whisenhunt in the series finale at 1:40 p.m.
