Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was expected to be one of the first players selected in the NFL Draft this year, but an untimely knee injury has probably changed that.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen report that Simmons suffered a torn ACL recently while training. That means he will likely be unavailable for a large portion of the 2019 NFL season.
From @mortreport and me: Mississippi St. DT Jeffery Simmons, projected to be a top 15-pick in April, suffered a knee injury during training that is thought to be a torn ACL, per league sources. A statement to offer clarity on Simmons' injury is expected to be released today.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 12, 2019
In addition to the injury, Simmons was one of the players who was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine later this month due to some off-field issues. Between that and the knee injury, his stock could plummet.
Simmons recorded 62 total tackles, two sacks and 18 tackles for loss during his junior season at Mississippi State. If he slips way down the draft board, he could wind up being a value pick for some team.
