Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was ejected from practice on August 4, 2026, after throwing a punch at teammate JC Latham. Head coach Robert Saleh removed the All-Pro from the session to enforce a strict team policy against fighting, though Simmons was permitted to complete his workout on a separate field.
The incident occurred during an 11-on-11 period of training camp when a post-play tussle broke out between the offensive and defensive lines. One report from USA Today notes the punch followed an incident where Simmons had his helmet ripped off.
Assistant defensive line coach Tanzel Smart intervened to pull Simmons from the fight. Coach Robert Saleh then paused the entire practice to gather the players and cool the situation down before officially removing Simmons from the field.
Robert Saleh’s Discipline and Practice Policy
Saleh treated the ejection as a matter of standard protocol, drawing a direct line between game-day rules and training camp behavior. While Simmons was the only player ejected, the move served as a clear boundary for the roster.
“Our policy is if you throw a punch, you’re ejected in the game, same thing with practice, if you throw a punch out at practice. But rather than go to the locker room, he went to the other fields. He still got his work in. So the projected reps and the work that he would have gotten in, he got in off to the side.”
Robert Saleh, Titans Head Coach
The decision to let Simmons work on a side field with a strength coach suggests a balance between maintaining discipline and preserving the conditioning of a star player. Saleh acknowledged the environmental factors contributing to the tension, noting that it was the second day of pads
in hot
and muggy
conditions.
The Friction Between Simmons and JC Latham
This is not an isolated clash between the defensive tackle and the tackle. At that time, then-coach Brian Callahan stated the team would not accept fighting, but he did not eject Simmons as Saleh did this Tuesday.
Saleh, however, views this aggression as a double-edged sword. While he does not condone the punch, he wants his linemen to play with a specific level of intensity.
“Our O-line and D-lines, we want them playing with an edge. We want them to toe the line. We just gotta learn how to draw the penalty, not give the penalty. We’re always going to toe the line of violence. We’re always going to toe the line of being aggressive. Call it instigating if you want; it’s just the nature of who we’re going to be.”
Robert Saleh, Titans Head Coach
Financial Stakes and All-Pro Pedigree
The volatility comes from a player who is central to the Titans’ defensive reconstruction.
His value to the franchise is reflected in his contract. In June, Simmons signed a three-year, $105.8 million extension, which made Simmons the richest defensive tackle in NFL history. That record was surpassed; USA Today reports that Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter surpassed that mark in July with a four-year, $152 million extension.
Training Camp Volatility and Team Culture
Simmons has a documented history of training camp friction. Beyond the repeated clashes with Latham, he was involved in an intense argument with Cam Ward during last year’s camp and had another tussle this past Monday.
For Saleh, the challenge is refining this aggression into disciplined football. The coach described the fight as a reminder that we’ve got work to do
, framing the conflict as a byproduct of “brothers” who fight but ultimately take care of one another.
By ejecting the defensive player, Saleh is signaling that no individual’s status overrides the team’s behavioral standards. The move establishes a precedent that while an edge
is required, the inability to return to the huddle without giving away freebies
is a liability the coaching staff will not tolerate.
Worth a look
