GREEN BAY – Isaiah Simmons appears to be readjusting to life as a linebacker just fine.
Green Bay's free-agent addition, who played safety and other hybrid defensive roles over five years with the Cardinals and Giants, has made his presence known at Nitschke Field over the first two days of training camp.
Playing as the third linebacker in Jeff Hafley's base defense with Quay Walker still working his way back from an offseason ankle procedure, Simmons twice bolted into the backfield during Wednesday's first practice. The first came on a pitch, and another time on a screen, as he arrived in running back Josh Jacobs' path in a flash.
Then Thursday, playing alongside Ty'Ron Hopper in the nickel defense with the second unit, he tipped Malik Willis' pass at the line of scrimmage, and the deflection went to a sliding Carrington Valentine for an interception.
It's been impossible not to notice Simmons out there, particularly with his speed at 6-4 and 238 pounds. But the really intriguing thing is he feels there might be another gear yet for him to hit.
"I still feel like I'm not really going how I can get," Simmons said after Thursday's practice. "I feel like that's going to come with me just getting more comfortable with this playbook and the new position … as well as me grasping the concepts of Haf's defense."
Simmons calls playing strong-side linebacker new because he's been in "DB world" for the last two seasons in New York. He played a lot more linebacker in Arizona, where he was chosen as the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 draft.
But even then, he feels his versatility as a tackler, blitzer and pass defender was more a curse than a blessing. As an athletic marvel who ran a 4.39-second 40 with a 39-inch vertical as a top draft prospect, he was asked to do so many things he didn't have the opportunity to excel at anything in particular.
Since the Packers signed him, they've narrowed his focus to off-ball linebacker in specific packages, and it's helped.
"I feel like it's been beneficial to me so far, just allowing me to really learn one thing (as) opposed to learning this today, something else tomorrow, and who knows the next day," Simmons said. "I'm really appreciative of that."
As he learns the defense, the coaches are also learning about him. It's an ongoing process, but the Packers like what they see so far.
"There's a reason he was a top 10 pick," Head Coach Matt LaFleur said. "He's got all the measurables, and it's just getting him acclimated with our system and knowing what he can do, and try to put him in some advantageous positions where he can really showcase his talent."
He certainly showed up in Jacobs' grill on Wednesday, and don't think the Pro Bowl running back didn't notice who it was. Jacobs called him "a unicorn" at linebacker with his speed, and he feels the more comfortable Simmons gets, the faster he runs.
"I just can't wait to see him in pads," Jacobs said, which Simmons is looking forward to as well. "I want to see how physical he is. I've played against him a couple times so I know what kind of player he is, but it's different when you see it on a day-to-day basis."
Safety Xavier McKinney saw it as Simmons' teammate with the Giants in 2023, and McKinney's endorsement with Green Bay's personnel department contributed to the acquisition. He echoed the unicorn-themed sentiments Jacobs expressed.
"You don't really see 'backers like him with his size, his length that can run, that can cover, that can tackle – can really do all those things and be productive," McKinney said. "He's going to be a big part of our defense."
Simmons likes that it'll be at linebacker versus defensive back, even though he's not the prototype for the position. His combination of length, power, speed and agility doesn't fit any specific mold, and his potential impact in Green Bay isn't known.
But for now he's going to keep learning and making plays, and let the rest fall into place.
"I'm just going to be myself, man," Simmons said. "I'm not really here to show anything to anybody else, prove any points to anybody. That's not what I'm here for. I'm just here to be myself and help the team out."
