Coverage spread: 2 sources — 2 unrated
Lean ratings via AllSides / Media Bias-Fact-Check. How this works.
Where they agree
- Simmons threw a punch at right tackle JC Latham during a line scrum in Tuesday’s practice.
- Coach Robert Saleh ejected Simmons under a team policy that treats punches in practice the same as in games.
- Simmons was sent to work on a side field rather than the locker room, so he still got training reps in.
- Assistant coach Tanzel Smart physically separated Simmons from the fight before Saleh stopped practice.
Where they differ
- CBS Sports provides more detail on the buildup, noting Simmons and center Austin Schlottmann were tangled first before Simmons went after Latham.
- CBS Sports includes historical context, recalling a nearly identical Simmons-Latham fight in 2024 under former coach Brian Callahan, who did not eject Simmons then.
- CBS Sports quotes Saleh at greater length on wanting linemen to play with an edge and ‘toe the line’ of aggression without drawing penalties.
- NBC Sports keeps its account brief, focusing mainly on the ejection itself and Saleh’s quote about the team’s punch policy, with a standard gambling disclaimer appended.
Tennessee Titans star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was thrown out of Tuesday’s training camp practice after he punched right tackle JC Latham during a scrum between the offensive and defensive lines. Head coach Robert Saleh sent Simmons to a side field to finish his work individually, enforcing what he said is a standing team policy against throwing punches in practice or games.
What actually happened during practice?
The incident started early in team drills when the offensive and defensive lines got tangled up after a play, a common occurrence in padded camp practices. Simmons and center Austin Schlottmann were wrapped up first, and the confrontation escalated when Simmons threw a punch at Latham in the middle of the pile. Assistant defensive line coach Tanzel Smart pulled Simmons out of the fight, and Saleh halted practice entirely, calling the team together to talk things down before resuming.
Why was Simmons singled out for ejection?
Saleh said the punch was the deciding factor. He explained that the Titans’ rule is straightforward: throwing a punch gets a player ejected, whether in a game or at practice. Rather than sending Simmons to the locker room, Saleh had him work on a separate field with a strength coach so he wouldn’t lose his practice reps entirely — he says Simmons “still got his work in,” just away from the rest of the team. No other player involved in the scrum was ejected.
Has this happened before between these two players?
Yes. Simmons and Latham clashed in a similar fight during the first day of full-pad practice in training camp 2024, under previous head coach Brian Callahan. At the time, Callahan said the team wouldn’t tolerate fighting at practice, but he did not eject Simmons from that session. Saleh’s decision to remove Simmons this time marks a stricter approach from the new coaching staff.
How did Saleh explain his approach to physicality?
Saleh framed the incident as part of the natural friction between the offensive and defensive lines rather than a sign of a deeper problem. He noted it was only the second day of padded practice, in hot and muggy conditions, and said flare-ups are expected when linemen “get after it.” He compared the team to brothers who fight but ultimately look out for each other and get the work done.
At the same time, Saleh said he wants his linemen playing with an edge and doesn’t mind them “toeing the line” of aggression or even instigating, as long as they stay disciplined enough to avoid giving away penalties. He said the goal is for players to draw penalties from opponents rather than commit them, and that the punch crossed a line the team can’t accept, even while the underlying competitiveness is something he encourages.
What does this mean for Simmons and the Titans’ defense?
Simmons enters 2026 as the anchor of a defensive front that Saleh rebuilt in his first year as head coach. He’s coming off a career year that included a first-team All-Pro selection and his fourth Pro Bowl trip in five seasons, making him one of the most important pieces of Tennessee’s roster heading into the season. The practice ejection cost the Titans his reps for the rest of that workout, though Saleh emphasized the coaching staff made sure Simmons kept training individually rather than sitting out entirely.
How did coverage of the incident compare?
Both outlets that reported on the incident relied on the same on-the-record comments from Saleh, delivered through Associated Press reporter Teresa Walker, and described the same sequence of events without offering additional details from players themselves. Neither Simmons nor Latham is quoted directly in either account, and neither piece indicates any disciplinary action beyond the in-practice ejection.
Sources
Featured photo: Tennessee Titans via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)