A yr after signing a four-year Titans extension, Jeffery Simmons has added a chunk of reporting to his resume. The sixth-year Titans defensive lineman alerted X followers that Arden Key‘s suspension won’t come to cross.
In late July, reports came down that the Tennessee edge-rusher received a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug coverage. In a uncommon improvement, the ban has been overturned on enchantment. ESPN.com’s Turron Davenport confirms Simmons’ providing, and the Titans will probably be eligible to make use of Key for the season’s first six video games.
This can each maintain a Titans starter within the combine and shield Key’s ensures. Whereas enchantment processes can result in lowered suspensions, PED bans are usually not generally reversed. This represents a win for the Titans, who’ve Key on a three-year deal worth $21M. The free-agent pickup began 9 video games final season and is on monitor to be Tennessee’s prime Harold Landry edge sidekick this yr.
Signing early through the 2023 free-agency interval after taking part in for 3 groups from 2020-22, Key notched six sacks and 12 quarterback hits in his Titans debut. The previous Raiders third-rounder and Jaguars and 49ers supplementary rusher has a 6.5-sack season — with the 2021 49ers — on his resume as nicely. Key, 28, struggled to discover a function with the Raiders however has provided belated manufacturing elsewhere. The Titans want extra of it quickly.
The Titans have run into regular bother discovering edge assist reverse Landry. From Jadeveon Clowney to Cameron Wake to Vic Beasley to Bud Dupree, Tennessee has been unable to workers this place since buying Landry within the 2018 second spherical. The workforce additionally misplaced versatile pass-rusher Denico Autry in free company, seeing him be a part of off-ball linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair with the Texans. Tennessee wants Key, who was a part of GM Ran Carthon‘s first FA crop, to offer stability.
Rashad Weaver (5.5 sacks in 2022, none final yr) loomed as Key’s alternative. The previous fourth-round choose can slide again right into a rotational function on the heels of this information.