Sports
Titans’ Cam Ward sparks practice fight with Jeffery Simmons after mocking his signature celebration
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Two stars, one a seasoned veteran and the other a number-one pick, got into a heated scuffle during a scorching-hot Tennessee Titans practice on Monday.
Quarterback Cam Ward, the first overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons were spotted getting into it after a play late in practice.
Ward threw a touchdown to wide receiver Calvin Ridley, and as he went to celebrate, he stopped in front of Simmons to tease him with his trademark “Zombieland” celebration — something Simmons is known for after making big defensive plays.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward and DT Jeffery Simmons got into a physical altercation at practice on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. (GETTY)
Simmons didn’t like it one bit, shoving Ward in the facemask with both hands.
That sparked the Titans’ offensive line to quickly rush in to protect their quarterback, including left tackle Dan Moore Jr.
BENGALS ROOKIE KNOCKS DOWN JOE BURROW DURING PRACTICE, SPARKS HEATED CONFRONTATION WITH TEAMMATES
“Absolutely not,” Moore said when asked if anyone is allowed to touch the quarterback, per ESPN. “That goes without saying.”
Both players were eventually separated. Simmons lost his helmet during the physical altercation and left the field, while Ward went on to run the next play.
Titans head coach Brian Callahan didn’t let it slide. After practice, he made the entire team run in the 96-degree heat.
“You get that same attitude, confidence, that same edge every day out of those two guys,” cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. said after practice. “That’s what you expect. But when it does happen with the quarterback, you’ve got to break it up as soon as possible. But brothers fight.”
Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans leads a huddle prior to an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Dec. 11, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
There had been some tension building earlier, as Ward and right tackle JC Latham jawed with Simmons following a short-yardage touchdown run by running back Julius Chestnut. Simmons had been talking trash to the offense, and Ward and Latham were firing back from the huddle.
Ward then threw the touchdown to Ridley and decided to keep the rivalry going, which led to the clash.
While a competitive edge — even among teammates — is encouraged during NFL training camps, no one wants to see the quarterback involved in physical altercations. Simmons, however, wasn’t going to let Ward mock him with his own celebration, though the Titans clearly want to draw a line with these confrontations.
“You never want to see your quarterback in the middle of those kinds of things,” Brownlee added. “But when it does happen, it shows you the kind of dog he has in him. He isn’t going to take anything.”
Cam Ward #1 of the Tennessee Titans looks on after the Tennessee Titans Training Camp at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on July 23, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Ward, who went just 2-of-7 for 42 yards in his second preseason game over the weekend, will have one final tune-up against the Minnesota Vikings on Friday before his regular-season debut against the Denver Broncos on Sept. 7.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday Washington had no objections to Iranian players participating in the 2026 Fifa World Cup but he added the players will not be allowed to bring with them people with ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
“Nothing from the US has told them they can’t come,” Rubio told reporters.
President Donald Trump also said his administration “would not want to affect the athletes” in comments he made at the White House.
The 2026 soccer World Cup is set to begin on June 11 across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Paolo Zampolli, a Trump envoy who has no official connection with the World Cup, had earlier suggested that Italy should replace Iran at the tournament.
“The problem with Iran would be not their athletes. It would be some of the other people they would want to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the IRGC. We may not be able to let them in but not the athletes themselves,” Rubio said.
“They can’t bring a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend that they are journalists and athletic trainers,” Rubio added. Washington has designated the IRGC as a “foreign terrorist organisation.”
Currently there is no suggestion Iran will withdraw or be banned from the tournament that Italy missed out on.
After the start of the Iran war, Iran requested that Fifa move the team’s three group matches from the US to Mexico, which was rejected.
The US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Iran responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states with US bases. US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed thousands and displaced millions. A fragile ceasefire in the Iran war began over two weeks ago.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Cameras showed former New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch in the team’s draft room Thursday night during the first round.
At one point, Tisch was seen standing near Giants head coach John Harbaugh. Despite no longer holding a majority stake in the NFL franchise, Tisch remains the Giants’ chairman of the board.
ESPN obtained an NFL memo last month detailing plans by Steve Tisch and his siblings to transfer their stake in the Giants to trusts for their children.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch warms up before the NFL game between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Oct. 28, 2018. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)
“Prior transfers to these Trusts were completed pursuant to 2023 and 2024 Finance Committee approvals,” the memo stated. “The Sellers now propose to transfer their entire remaining interests, totaling 23.1% of the Club, to the Trusts. … Following the transactions, the Sellers will no longer own any interest in the Club.”
It was not clear if the transfer requests were in any way related to Tisch’s name appearing in the Epstein files released by the U.S. Justice Department in January. Tisch’s name came up more than 400 times in the files. Tisch at the time said he knew Epstein but denied visiting Epstein’s island.
As for draft night, the Giants made what some viewed as an unconventional pick at No. 10, selecting offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa.
Francis Mauigoa of Miami celebrates after being selected as the tenth overall pick by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Before that, the Giants added another piece to their pass rush, selecting hybrid edge/off-ball linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 5.
Reese earned All-American honors at Ohio State and finished his first season as a full-time starter with 6.5 sacks.
Arvell Reese of Ohio State celebrates after being selected as the fifth overall pick by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Reese is set to join a pass rush that includes Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and, likely, Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
One of the most intriguing stories entering the first round of the NFL Draft was where Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson might land. Well, fans got their answer sooner than they expected.
The Los Angeles Rams surprisingly selected Simpson with the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The selection isn’t completely out of left field and is arguably the best-case scenario for Simpson. The Rams have Matthew Stafford as their starter for 2026, but Stafford has flirted with the idea of retirement each of the past two offseasons. It’s clear the clock is ticking on his NFL career.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The Los Angeles Rams pulled a stunner and drafted Alababam QB Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick in the NFL Draft. (CFP/Getty Images)
Now, Simpson gets to sit behind one of the NFL’s best veteran quarterbacks, learn the position while adapting to life in the NFL, and not face immediate pressure to succeed. Additionally, the Rams are one of the most well-run franchises in the league right now. Sean McVay is an elite head coach who led the team to a Super Bowl victory to cap the 2021 season and just had the team within one win of another Super Bowl berth before falling to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
The most surprising aspect is the Rams looking toward the future, quite frankly. This is a team that has had no problem trading away first-round picks to make its team the best it can be each season. It seemed most likely the team would use the No. 13 pick to improve its team for next season, which could be Stafford’s last. Instead, the team decided to put itself in position for Stafford’s retirement without skipping a beat.
Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford, now 38-years-old, has flirted with retirement after each of the past two seasons. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
There were several surprises in the first 13 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft: the Cardinals taking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, the Titans selecting Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4, the Kansas City Chiefs trading up to take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at No. 6 and even the Cowboys trading up one spot to make sure they drafted Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
But the Rams completely abandoning their recent strategy (usually trading away first-round picks and loading up for now) to select Stafford’s heir apparent is easily the biggest early shock of the 2026 NFL Draft.
North India cotton yarn steady despite continued push by spinners
The WIRED Gear Team’s Tips on Ways to Save Money
Bangladesh, EU sign Partnership and Cooperation Agreement
-
Fashion1 week agoFrance’s LVMH Q1 revenue falls 6%, shows resilience amid Iran war
-
Entertainment1 week agoIs Claude down? Here’s why users are seeing errors
-
Sports1 week agoPSL 11: Peshawar Zalmi win toss, opt to field first against Quetta Gladiators
-
Tech1 week agoCYBERUK ’26: UK lagging on legal protections for cyber pros | Computer Weekly
-
Business1 week agoPepsiCo earnings beat estimates as North American food business improves
-
Sports5 days agoWWE WrestleMania 42 Night 2: Live match results and analysis
-
Fashion1 week agoRaymond unveils luxury Chairman’s Collection Store in Mumbai
-
Sports5 days agoNCAA men’s gymnastics championship: All-time winners list