The Washington Commanders are bringing back a familiar face. Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Commanders are signing veteran defensive end/linebacker Preston Smith.
The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Smith is 32 years old and entered the NFL as a second-round pick of Washington back in the 2015 NFL draft. He played in all 64 games during those four years, starting 50, and racking up 168 tackles, including 29 for loss, 24.5 sacks, four interceptions and four forced fumbles.
Advertisement
He signed a four-year contract with the Green Bay Packers in 2019, where he spent the next five and a half seasons. The Packers traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers at the NFL trade deadline last season. In 10 NFL seasons, Smith has played in 163 games with 138 starts, made 443 tackles, 74 for loss, 70.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and five interceptions.
Smith joins a defensive line that lost defensive end Deatrich Wise for the season with a torn quad in last week’s loss to the Green Bay Packers. Washington signed defensive end Jalyn Holmes from the practice squad. In a corresponding move, the Commanders surprisingly placed veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones on the reserve/injured list. Jones was also injured in last week’s loss, but the severity was unknown. Washington currently has four cornerbacks on the roster and could elevate someone from the practice squad on game day for depth.
Smith is known as a good run defender on the edge, but he can still help with the pass rush. He had eight sacks in 2023.
Advertisement
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders bring back veteran DE Preston Smith