The Joey Porter Jr. trade and Jamel Dean injury left a huge hole at cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But the team isn't going down without a fight, as Pittsburgh just poached a former Chicago Bears cornerback from the Washington Commanders.
On Tuesday, the Steelers signed former Bears cornerback Terell Smith to their 53-man roster off the Commanders' practice squad.
Smith, who was drafted by the Bears with the 165th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, played in Chicago for three seasons (2023-2025) before being waived as part of final roster cuts. He signed with the Commanders' practice squad shortly after and remained with Washington until signing with the Steelers' 53-man roster.
Smith showed a lot of promise during
his first two years in Chicago, appearing in 26 games and making six starts. He recorded 68 combined tackles, 10 passes defended, one interception, and a forced fumble during his first two seasons with the Bears. Smith was primed for a shot at a starting cornerback position in 2025 before a season-ending knee injury derailed his trajectory in Chicago.
Pittsburgh will be Smith's latest opportunity in the NFL. Considering Dean will miss time as he recovers from an ankle injury, there's a real possibility that Smith could see a big role early.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers poach former Bears CB from Commanders
