Since Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander suffered season-ending injuries in back-to-back weeks at the start of November, the Steelers have been weak at inside linebacker.
Before suffering their injuries, Alexander was possibly the team’s best covering linebacker while Holcomb was Pittsburgh’s best inside linebacker in terms of snaps.
The Steelers would have to give veteran Elandon Roberts everything he could manage if they lost both of those players. Roberts has participated in over 80% of Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps in five of the team’s seven games since Holcomb’s injury.
Roberts left the two games in which he didn’t play a lot of snaps due to injuries.
Against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16, he tore his pectoral muscle. He was already ruled out of Week 17 by Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin at his news conference on December 26.
Myles Jack and Mykal Walker emerged as Pittsburgh’s starting inside linebackers in the game against the Bengals when Roberts left due to an injury.
The season started with neither linebacker on the Steelers roster. Prior to joining the Steelers practice squad on November 20, Jack was retired.
Even though Jack had just made his Steelers season debut in Week 16, he finished the game donning the green-dot helmet for Pittsburgh’s defense.
The Steelers have using their practice squad this season to stow possible experienced replacements in anticipation of the NFL increasing the size of practice squads in 2020. Smith’s signing is merely one more instance.
However, it usually takes a few weeks for a veteran like Smith to adjust to the new system, get back into football shape, or do both.
So, it’s worth wondering what Smith will be able to contribute with only two weeks left in the regular season. But perhaps Smith could be ready for a significant role by wild card weekend if the Steelers make the playoffs.
At the conclusion of his collegiate career, Smith tore his left ACL and MCL, missing his rookie season in the NFL. He also had injury to his knee nerves.
However, Smith bounced back to record 81 total tackles in 2017, including 2 pass defenses, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 sack.
Smith amassed 498 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and 9 sacks over his four seasons with the Cowboys. He also had two interceptions, six forced fumbles, and twenty pass defenses.
On October 6, 2021, Smith was released by the Cowboys. Smith has since played for the Raiders, Saints, New York Giants, and Green Bay Packers.
In 13 games for the Giants last season, Smith recorded 88 total tackles, including 3 tackles for loss and 1 sack.
On December 27, the Steelers announced that they have added safety Nate Meadows to the practice squad in addition to Smith.
