What do you mean, for an immediate impact?
The Chicago Bears’ trade for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons paid off instantly in Monday night’s 34-17 road bombing of the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
“His impact has been profound,” coach Ben Johnson said of Simmons, according to the team’s official website.
The man in the bright orange long sleeves was impossible to miss. Simmons stuffed the stat sheet in his first game with the Bears, notching a sack, six tackles, two tackles for loss, a pass defended and a quarterback pressure.
“We always watch the Jumbotron, but we were really watching the Jumbotron,” joked wide receiver Kalif Raymond. “Watching him play, watching the impact he has, I mean, he has a whole different element.”
Simmons’ arrival allows coordinator Dennis Allen to play his defense differently. Instead of throwing extra rushers to get one-on-one matchups, the new addition does it for him. Simmons was the only Bears defensive lineman to record double-digit double teams (13) Monday night, according to Next Gen Stats.
This presence opened up the rest of the crew. It’s no coincidence that Montez Sweat had his best game with his former Mississippi State teammate in the lineup. Sweat had a sack, three QB pressures and a tackle for loss in the win.
“I definitely had my opportunities,” Sweat said. “I definitely had some 1-on-1s. I couldn’t wait to take advantage of it, and I can’t wait to do it the rest of the year.
“(Simmons has) definitely improved his game and his IQ. He’s always had a true love for the game, and that affects you down the line and throughout the team.”
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