For four years, the Tennessee Titans’ two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons faced center Aaron Brewer in practices. Now, he’s set to line up across the line of scrimmage from his former teammate Monday night when the Titans play the Miami Dolphins.
Brewer, 26, signed a three-year deal with the Dolphins in free agency to replace Connor Williams in the middle of the Miami offensive line. And Simmons feels confident that the Titans’ rookie defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat can win the matchup.
“He’s still the same player,” Simmons told reporters Wednesday, via ESPN’s Turron Davenport. “I practiced against ‘Brew.’ I know him. He’s quick going lateral. He’s a guy I feel good about our nose tackle lined up over him, especially with his strengths.
“I’ll be able to tell [Sweat] a couple things throughout the week that, when I practiced against ‘Brew,’ that I saw in ‘Brew’ that we still see on film. But ‘Brew’ is a fiesty player — that’s the reason why he’s in this league. He’s good at what he does and he’s good at the type of offense [the Dolphins] run.”
Through the first three weeks of the year, Brewer has a 73.2 grade on Pro Football Focus (third best among Dolphins offensive starters) and has been credited with allowing three pressures and no sacks.
