The Pittsburgh Steelers have experienced terrible injury luck at inside linebacker this season. So, to finish the 2023 campaign, the Steelers are adding more depth for the position on their practice squad in former Pro Bowler Jaylon Smith.

Smith’s agent, Doug Hendrickson, announced on December 26 through his X (formerly Twitter) account that Smith signed with the Steelers.

The Steelers officially announced signing Smith on December 27.

The Dallas Cowboys drafted Smith at No. 34 overall in the 2016 NFL draft. He didn’t play as a rookie because of a knee injury, but Smith returned to experience a successful 2017 season.

In 2019, he made the Pro Bowl with 142 combined tackles, including 6 for loss and 2.5 sacks.

This season, Smith has had stints with the New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders. He played in 1 game for the Raiders on November 5.

Steelers Lose LB Elandon Roberts to Injury
The Steelers have been thin at inside linebacker since losing Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander to season-ending injuries back-to-back weeks at the beginning of November.

Prior to their injuries, Holcomb was Pittsburgh’s top inside linebacker in terms of snaps, and Alexander was arguably the team’s top linebacker in coverage.

Losing both of those players meant the Steelers would give fellow veteran Elandon Roberts everything he could handle. Since Holcomb’s injury, Roberts has played more than 80% of Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps in five of seven games.

The two contests he didn’t play that many snaps, Roberts exited with injuries.

He suffered a pectoral muscle in Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals. During his December 26 press conference, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin already ruled him out for Week 17.

After Roberts left with his injury, Myles Jack and Mykal Walker finished as Pittsburgh’s primary inside linebackers in the matchup versus the Bengals.

Neither linebacker began the season with the Steelers. Jack was retired until he signed with the Steelers practice squad on November 20.

Jack made his season debut for the Steelers in Week 16, and yet, he ended the contest wearing the green-dot helmet for Pittsburgh’s defense.

What Jaylon Smith May Provide for Steelers
With the NFL expanding the size of practice squads in 2020, the Steelers have used their practice squad this season to stash potential veteran replacements. Signing Smith is just another example.

Typically after adding a veteran such as Smith, though, it takes a few weeks for the player to either adapt to the new system, get back into football shape or 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.

Smith missed his rookie NFL season because he tore his left ACL and MCL at the end of his college career. He also suffered nerve damage in the knee.

But Smith returned to post 81 combined tackles, including 3 tackles for loss, 2 pass defenses and 1 sack in 2017.

Over four seasons with the Cowboys, Smith had 498 combined tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 9 sacks. He also had 20 pass defenses, 6 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions.

The Cowboys released Smith on October 6, 2021. Since then, Smith has played for the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Saints and Raiders.

Last season, Smith posted 88 combined tackles, including 3 tackles for loss and 1 sack in 13 games for the Giants.

In addition to Smith, the Steelers announced they signed safety Nate Meadows to the practice squad on December 27.