It's a brutal time of year. For many, the Green Bay Packers' preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks will present one final audition to launch an NFL career.
For former first-round pick Isaiah Simmons, it's far deeper than that.
Simmons failed to translate training camp promise into preseason success, and he enters Saturday's game in desperate need of a positive performance. Not just to increase his fading odds of landing a spot on the Packers' 53-man roster, but potentially on any NFL roster.
Packers linebacker Isaiah Simmons desperately needs to deliver in preseason finale
Simmons entered the preseason seemingly close to clinching a roster spot. His elite athleticism was on full display during Packers practices, but it would always come down to real game reps.
The Arizona Cardinals selected Simmons eighth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, but they traded him for a seventh-round pick only three years later. Simmons spent two seasons with the New York Giants before leaving as a free agent this past spring.
It hasn't gone to plan in Green Bay, either, with Simmons' struggles in coverage leaving his future in serious doubt. The Packers had him play deep into the second half of last week's win over the Indianapolis Colts, which is rarely an encouraging sign for a veteran in a preseason contest.
Per Pro Football Focus, in the two exhibition games, quarterbacks throwing into Simmons' coverage have completed 81.8 percent of their passes for 109 yards and a touchdown.
Getting beaten consistently by a mixture of starters and backups in preseason games is an ominous sign. The challenges only become more daunting when the real games begin.
It makes Saturday's contest so important for Simmons, especially on defense. Providing some special teams value will increase his roster chances, but the Packers will also want to see that he can offer something on defense. Kristian Welch has done that this summer, and he may take the final linebacker spot.
Simmons also needs to put a good performance on tape for other teams to see. If he fails to make the Packers' roster, it's fair to wonder where the next opportunity will come.
Over 80,000 fans inside Lambeau Field will have his back. Everyone wants to see Simmons reach his potential and become a difference-maker. But time is running out, and the veteran desperately needs a big performance in the preseason finale.
Not only is his Packers roster spot on the line, but potentially his NFL future.