Bengals wary after Titans trade Jeffrey Simmons
The Cincinnati Bengals said they will approach Sunday’s Nov. 1 game with caution after the Tennessee Titans traded defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons to the Chicago Bears, Geoff Hobson reported on Oct. 29, 2026. The transaction drew immediate attention around the team facilities and shortened the scouting window before the Titans arrive at Paycor Stadium. Coaches and players stressed they would not take Tennessee lightly despite the roster move.
Hobson wrote that Bengals personnel watched the move on cafeteria and equipment-room televisions and reacted to the news on Thursday. The 1-6 Titans dealt their top pass rusher, prompting center and captain Ted Karras to joke that study time had been cut, though players said the remark was tongue-in-cheek. Tight end Mike Gesicki said teams must prepare and be ready, adding, “You better be ready to go.”
Hobson noted Cincinnati has faced Simmons multiple times and won four of the five meetings in which he played. That list includes a 19-16 AFC Divisional playoff victory in 2021 when Simmons sacked quarterback Joe Burrow three times. In the four regular-season meetings, Hobson reported Simmons recorded only half a sack and totaled 19 tackles, three tackles for loss and five quarterback hits against the Bengals. Head coach Zac Taylor called Simmons a top interior defender who can cause problems if opponents do not plan for him.
Karras and others pointed to the remaining veteran linemen, including John Franklin-Myers, Solomon Thomas and Nazir Stackhouse, as reasons to remain cautious. Right guard Dalton Risner warned teammates not to let the storyline become solely about Simmons and emphasized the quality of Tennessee’s front. Players also reminded reporters that the Bengals were only days removed from a narrow escape in Baltimore and said they must avoid a slow start on Sunday. Hobson reported the team focused on preparation rather than headline-driven distraction.
Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence recalled his college coach’s words, saying, “November is what they remember,” a phrase Hobson noted in his coverage. Hobson reported the Bengals have been strong at Paycor Stadium late in the season, going 17-10 in November through January home games over the past five seasons, including two Wild Card victories. Cincinnati entered the weekend aiming to improve to 5-2 and was watching a key AFC North matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns. Karras added that the division teams playing each other provided the Bengals an opportunity to gain ground.
Hobson included lighter notes from Thursday’s availability, such as Karras saying Joe Thuney would now block Simmons in practice and teammates teasing left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. about a “Bury me a Bengal” postgame message. Right tackle Amarius Mims joked about joining Brown in that request, Hobson wrote. Wide receiver Andrei Iosivas remains on injured reserve after thumb surgery but the team is targeting the Nov. 15 home game against the Steelers as a possible return date, Hobson reported. Hobson also noted the Bengals planned to send their training staff to Madrid for the Falcons game and that Iosivas planned to join that trip and reunite with family.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The Bengals are justified in treating the Titans as a changed but still dangerous opponent after Tennessee traded Jeffrey Simmons, because Hobson’s reporting shows multiple veteran linemen remain on that roster. Cincinnati’s past success against Simmons offers some matchup confidence, but that history does not eliminate the need to account for John Franklin-Myers, Solomon Thomas and Nazir Stackhouse. The team’s strong recent home record in November provides a favorable backdrop, yet the Bengals must guard against distraction and a slow start given recent tight games. Andrei Iosivas’ projected Nov. 15 return could add depth later in the month, so Cincinnati must balance short-term preparation for Tennessee with maintaining continuity through the season stretch.