Through the storm that went down in the Baltimore Ravens’ Week 2 loss to the New Orleans Saints, Trenton Simpson was a huge bright spot. He was terrific. The defense may have struggled, but he sure didn’t.
Simpson wasn’t believed to be the LB2 coming into 2026. However, with Teddye Buchanan still recovering from his 2025 ACL tear, the red carpet was rolled out for Simpson to be the guy next to Roquan Smith. He's looking like a star.
Week 1 wasn’t the best start. Week 2? Absolutely marvelous. He played at a level that might demand starting-level reps even when Buchanan returns.
If Simpson keeps it up, the defensive puzzle might shift when the unit’s healthy.
Trenton Simpson might have a shot to earn Baltimore Ravens’ LB2 job back
It’s been a crazy ride for Trenton Simpson. In his rookie year, he showed glimmers of potential. Over the last two years, though, his play was questionable at best, and it culminated in him losing his starting gig to Teddye Buchanan. Now, he could flip the script on Buchanan.
It’s hard to look at what Simpson did on Sunday and not want him back in there with the starting unit next week. He was tied for third on the team with 6 total tackles, added 1 tackle for loss, and submitted a 75.6 Pro Football Focus grade. His impact almost pushed the Ravens over the finish line.
Simpson is a key piece who can help limit explosive plays from the opposing offense. His speed and quick trigger were on full display in the home opener, slipping past blockers and tracking down ball carriers with ease. Those are the signs of a game-changing player who needs to be on the field.
Jesse Minter backed that up in his press conference on Monday.
“I think Trent’s playing like one of our best players right now,” Minter said. “He’s playing really fast and decisive; he’s playing with a ton of physicality.”
And it goes beyond his play against the run, as well. Simpson’s best trait might be his pass-rushing prowess. Minter could unlock that in 2026, and it’s taken just two weeks for the ability to shine through.
Just take a look at his pressure percentage and pass rush win rate thus far (second graph).
Who is turning pass rush wins into pressures (PFF). Had to bump up the snap minimum because Trent Simpson broke the chart (second image) https://t.co/YJNG4mIjmW pic.twitter.com/noFRzRbCXK
— Shaun Newkirk (@Shauncore) September 21, 2026
Simpson’s breaking the Richter scale. He’s the only player eclipsing a 30% pressure rate and 40% pass rush win rate. Sure, it hasn’t been ample reps, but it’s clear he’s been electric when those chances come.
So now the question becomes: does Buchanan take his starting spot back when he returns to the field?
Well, if Simpson keeps playing like he is, it may be hard for Buchanan to earn his reps back. He’s coming off a torn ACL, too, so it wouldn’t be shocking if the second-year pro is slowly deployed into action.
And Minter is not ready to take Simpson off the field.
“I don’t think Simpson’s done anything to say ‘we need to take this guy off the field,’ but also you’re getting a really good player back, hopefully, in Teddye,” Minter said. “So we’ll have to figure out, make sure we have our best guys on the field for any given situation.”
Luckily for both, Simpson’s versatility should allow for countless diverse schemes and opportunities to get the two young linebackers on the field. The decisions will undoubtedly be more difficult than simply penciling Buchanan back in as a starter once he's healthy. Simpson is giving him a run for his money.
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