Pittsburgh beefed up their secondary on Tuesday, signing cornerback Terrell Smith off the Commanders’ practice squad. This ain’t some minor league call-up either; this guy’s got some serious NFL reps and a story that takes him through Chicago and Washington before landing in Steel City. This move tells you a lot about how Pittsburgh is trying to shore up their depth as the season rolls on.
From Bears Draft Pick to Pittsburgh Bound
Smith’s journey to the Steelers has been a bit of a rollercoaster. He was a fifth-round draft pick by the Bears back in 2023, and he didn’t waste any time getting on the field. He played in 26 games over his first two seasons, putting up some solid numbers for Chicago. We’re talking 68 tackles, a pick, 10 passes defensed, a forced fumble, and even a fumble recovery. That’s real production. But then last year hit, and he tore his patellar tendon. That’s a brutal injury, no doubt. After being cut by Chicago this past summer, he landed on Washington’s practice squad, and now, Pittsburgh’s snagged him for their active roster.
Roster Moves and What It Means For The Steelers’ Depth
The cool thing for the Steelers is they didn’t have to cut anyone from their active roster to make this happen. They had an open spot ready for Smith, showing they’d been eyeing some moves. They also weren’t done just yet. Pittsburgh signed defensive lineman K.J. Henry to their practice squad, adding even more depth. To make room for Henry, they released linebacker Bradyn Swinson. So, the Steelers are clearly focused on bolstering their defensive unit for the grind ahead.
With Smith now on the active roster and K.J. Henry joining the practice squad, Pittsburgh’s making calculated moves to strengthen their depth. It’s going to be interesting to watch how Smith bounces back from that injury and what kind of impact he can make on that Steelers defense as the season progresses.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
Leave a Reply