NASHVILLE – When the subject is the Titans defensive line, the name Jeffery Simmons usually comes up first.
Then, more time than not, T'Vondre Sweat's name is mentioned.
It's understandable, of course. Simmons is a three-time Pro Bowler, and Sweat was the team's second-round pick in 2024, a guy with enormous potential.
Mentioned third on the Tennessee defensive line is usually Sebastian Joseph-Day, who didn't get a lot of attention when he signed a new contract with the team back in March. Joseph-Day, in fact, has managed to keep a pretty low profile this offseason, on a team with so many new storylines.
But that's just fine with Joseph-Day.
"Listen, man, it's OK," he said with smile. "I don't mind. I'm an under-the-radar guy. I just try and do my job at a high level."
The truth of the matter is the addition of Joseph-Day was one of the better moves made by the Titans last offseason. Joseph-Day ended up playing in all 17 games, with 12 starts, and he tallied 44 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 14 quarterback pressures and three tackles for loss in his first year in Tennessee.
Joseph-Day was a leader in the locker room who also turned into a reliable player on the field.
The Titans liked what he did so much they re-signed him back in March, and this fall he expected to play alongside Simmons and Sweat once again.
"Obviously it is a blessing (to be back)," Joseph-Day said. "I am able to be somewhere I am familiar – familiar with the coach, familiar with the scheme, familiar with everything. So, I don't have to start all over. It is great, especially for my family as well. It was nice to come back."
Heading into his eight NFL season, Joseph-Day said he believes in what's around him, and he wants to do his part to make a difference.
"100 percent," Joseph-Day said. "The draft for us went amazing, all the players we added. Everyone looks really good, and I feel like the chemistry is great, kind of like night and day. You see everyone is jelling, everyone is familiar with one another. I am truly excited for this year.
"As for myself, I want to be known as a guy that is dependable, is a great teammate, someone who does his job at a high level, and someone who brings positive, great energy to the building. I want to be known for being a pro's pro. You may not know who I am, but I want to be known as a guy who does all the dirty work, is a great teammate, and gets his job done."
A sixth-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in the 2018 NFL Draft, Joseph-Day is still going strong at age 30.
In 88 career games, including 80 starts, he's tallied 274 tackles, 13.5 sacks and 91 quarterback pressures, in addition to two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery while playing with the Rams, Chargers, 49ers and Titans in his career.
He played alongside Aaron Donald in Los Angeles, when the Rams won Super Bowl LVI.
In Tennessee, Sebastian-Day said he felt like he played the run well in 2024, and he had his moments rushing the passer.
"I felt like when I had my opportunities to rush, I did some positive things," he said. "But that's one of the things I want to improve on. I want to be able to make every opportunity count when I rush, I want to try and affect the quarterback as much as I can whenever I have a rushing opportunity his year, I feel like that's where I can improve."
Joseph-Day said he likes the group around him.
He believes the defense can be better as a whole, with veterans leading the way.
Time will tell, of course.
"I love the guys around me," he said. "I feel like we have a really good shot to do something special as a group. We have a lot of veteran leadership, me being an eight-year guy, Dre'Mont Jones being a seventh-year guy, Arden Key, eighth-year guy, Jeff, seventh-year guy. Sweat, even though he is going into Year 2, he is still a very good player.
"We have a lot of guys who have been starters and played in meaningful games, so I feel like we have a lot of talent, veteran savvy and knowledge. And that can create something special."
