The Pittsburgh Steelers just inked former Chicago Bears cornerback Terell Smith, snatching him right off the Washington Commanders practice squad and immediately adding him to their 53-man roster. Why the rush? Simple: Pittsburgh’s cornerback room was looking thin, real thin, and they needed bodies.
Terell Smith’s Path Back to the League
Smith, a fifth-round pick by the Bears in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Minnesota, isn’t some fresh face, but he’s had a winding road. He actually saw some action in his first two years with Chicago, appearing in 26 games. During that time, he snagged one interception and broke up ten other passes, showing he can make plays when he’s out there. But then, tough break, he was placed on Injured Reserve in August of 2025, sidelining him for the entire season. After Chicago waived him, the Commanders picked him up for their practice squad in early September. Now, he’s got another shot on a 53-man roster, which is a huge deal for a player trying to stick around.
Steelers Were Looking Desperate at Cornerback
You gotta understand the situation for the Steelers; they weren’t just adding Smith for fun. They were running on fumes at cornerback. After trading away Joey Porter Jr. and then seeing Jamel Dean go down with an ankle injury, their depth chart was looking pretty sparse. Smith joins fellow veteran Sean Murphy-Bunting as new additions meant to bolster that unit right away. When you’re losing key guys, you need someone who can come in and contribute, even if it’s just to provide some much-needed relief. It’s all about patching those holes when the season’s in full swing, and Pittsburgh clearly felt Smith could do just that.
For Smith, this is a chance to prove he’s healthy and can still hang in the NFL. For the Steelers, it’s about trying to keep their secondary from totally collapsing. It’s an interesting move, and you know everyone in Pittsburgh will be watching to see if he can make an impact.
Speaking of impacts, can we just shout out our Seahawks for a second? That was a nail-biter, but we pulled it off! Los Angeles Chargers 23, Seattle Seahawks 30. HUGE win for the Emerald City! Go Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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