Practice counts for nothing if it doesn’t translate to the games. The Green Bay Packers have found that out with free-agent addition Isaiah Simmons, who is trending in the wrong direction after two preseason contests.
And Matt LaFleur knows it. His decision, paired with Simmons’ performance in Saturday’s win over the Indianapolis Colts, tells us everything.
LaFleur sat almost every roster lock in this game, including linebackers Edgerrin Cooper, Quay Walker, and notably, Isaiah McDuffie, but not Simmons. Quite the opposite. LaFleur had Simmons play deep into the second half, which isn’t a great sign.
Matt LaFleur puts Isaiah Simmons’ Packers future in doubt without saying a word
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.
Per Pro Football Focus, Simmons allowed five catches on six targets for 65 yards and a touchdown in last week’s opener, earning him an awful 27.9 coverage grade. He didn’t fare much better against the Colts, giving up four of five targets for 44 yards.
If Simmons is struggling against mostly backups in the preseason, just imagine what will happen when he faces the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta in Week 1, or Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel four days later. The Packers can’t take that risk.
LaFleur is well aware. It’s often easy to read the tea leaves with his preseason decisions. It’s rare for the Packers’ head coach to have a veteran like Simmons play deep into an August game if his roster spot is secure.
Cooper, Walker, and McDuffie are roster locks. So is second-year Ty’Ron Hopper, who is quietly having a strong summer. At best, that leaves one remaining spot.
Simmons faces competition from Kristian Welch, one of the Packers’ preseason stars from last year who surprisingly didn’t make their 53-man roster. He returned this year and has outperformed Simmons through the preseason.
Welch offers special teams value, which could give him the edge over the former first-round pick.
Simmons still has a shot. His impressive moments on the practice field still count. But LaFleur has made his stance crystal clear: Simmons is under serious pressure to make the Packers’ 53-man roster.
