Titans’ Ward, Simmons Have No Bad Blood After Scuffle: ‘I Think It Was What We Needed’

During Monday’s practice, Ward shoved Simmons from behind and taunted him after scoring a touchdown.

Cameron Ward #1 of the Tennessee Titans reacts following the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Aug. 15, 2025. Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward and defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons said they had no bad blood after a skirmish at practice this week.

During Monday’s practice, Ward taunted Simmons after throwing a touchdown, prompting the rest of the offense to intervene. Simmons noted that tempers flare in the dog days of training camp, and said he left it on the field after practice. Ward said the scuffle was the kind of energy he wants to bring to the team.

“Jeff [is] strong as [expletive], I would say,” Ward said at his post-practice press conference on Wednesday when asked if he learned anything from the incident. “It was fun at the same time, and I think it was what we needed, though. I mean, we love competing, especially me [and] Jeff. I’m excited to have that man as my teammate.”

The incident broke out on Monday. According to Titans beat reporters, during a red zone period, Simmons was on the receiving end of a key block from offensive tackle J.C. Latham, and running back Julius Chestnut scored a touchdown. On the next play, Ward hit wide receiver Calvin Ridley in the corner of the endzone for a touchdown. He then shoved Simmons from behind and flashed his “Zombieland” celebration, in which he puts one hand over his face and waves the other hand up and down with his arm outstretched.

Simmons shoved Ward back, prompting the rest of the offense to rush to Ward’s defense. A brief scuffle followed, and Simmons was escorted off the field.

Ward and Simmons have been actively talking trash since minicamp. On the first day of minicamp, a reporter noted that Simmons began talking to Ward but the rookie did not back down. The next day, Latham told reporters that during practice, Simmons was jawing at Ward and got close to him; Ward responded by headbutting Simmons.

“That’s me and Jeff[’s] relationship,” Ward said on Wednesday. “I wake up, I get here, he’s [expletive] near the first one I’m ready to talk [trash] to. And he’s the first one who come[s] at my head every day at practice. So, he lets me know. I’m excited to have him as my teammate.”

But the seventh-year defensive tackle and the first overall pick in the 2025 Draft also have a wholesome relationship. At one point, Simmons posted a picture of himself and Ward fishing on Instagram. Earlier this month, the Titans posted a picture of Ward and Simmons on the tarmac at an airport en route to joint practices with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their official Instagram account. And last week, a Titans beat reporter snapped a picture of the two talking after practice.

Speaking to reporters after practice Tuesday, Simmons was apologetic, noting that blood begins to boil in the August heat while praising the offense for standing up for the young signal-caller.

“[It] shouldn’t get [blown] up,” he said. “It’s training camp, tempers flare, move on. [At the] end of the day, you can’t touch the quarterback. It’s the same thing if we joint practice and somebody touch[es] our quarterback, trust me, I’m going to be the first one in there. So, I respect the hell out of our offense for having their quarterback[’s] back, having our quarterback[’s] back. But at the end of the day, you know, it’s football. Offensive line, defensive line, trenches, it’s hot, tempers flare, we [are] all tired.”

Simmons said he left the incident on the field Monday, took his correction, and went back to work the next day. He refused to answer reporters’ questions about it.

Ward said Wednesday that he was excited to watch Simmons put it on the field once the season began.

“I can’t wait to see what he [does on] Sundays,” the rookie said. “I already know what he’s about but I get to see the real thing coming soon.”

Ward also praised Simmons’s work ethic.

“I think the biggest thing about Jeff is that he goes hard every play,” he said. “Y'all get a chance to see out here in practice, and he’s somebody who you look up to as a young guy because of how hard they work, on and off the field, in the community that Jeff does, but he’s a great team player. He’s a great teammate and I’m just excited I’m not the one getting hit by him.”