Head coach Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers are making a late charge towards a possible AFC Playoff berth, and have added a veteran linebacker in Jaylon Smith in hopes of upgrading the defense over the final two games of the regular season.
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On Tuesday, the Steelers signed linebacker Jaylon Smith, according to his agent, Doug Hendrickson.
Congrats @thejaylonsmith for signing with the @steelers
— Doug Hendrickson (@DHendrickson41) December 27, 2023
Smith, 28, adds a veteran presence to a Steelers linebacker corps that has been ravaged by injuries this season. Pittsburgh has already lost Cole Holcomb (knee) and Kwon Alexander (Achilles tendon), along with Elandon Roberts (pectoral), leaving the Steelers woefully shorthanded at the position ahead of pivotal contests against the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens that could determine their postseason fate.
Prior to arriving in Pittsburgh, Smith spent time this season with the Las Vegas Raiders, prior to being released on Nov. 22.
In one appearance for the Raiders this season, Smith posted two total tackles.
According to Josina Anderson of CBS, Smith will begin his time in Pittsburgh on the practice squad. However, there is a possibility that he could be activated as soon as Week 17 against the Seahawks.
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Through his 88 career games, Smith has logged 11.0 sacks with 626 total tackles and 24 tackles for loss, since being chosen in the second-round of the 2016 NFL Draft, by the Dallas Cowboys. Smith has appeared in one Pro Bowl, and spent the first five seasons of his career in Dallas, prior to Micah Parsons' emergence making the veteran expendable, when he was ultimately released in 2021.
Smith could play a pivotal role in the Steelers' chase for a return to the playoffs. Pittsburgh, now 8-7 simply must win out and have the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, and Cincinnati Bengals lose at least one of their final two games of the season, in order to qualify for the postseason.
