Commanders Reunite with Veteran Preston Smith in Latest Roster Move

The Washington Commanders shook up their defensive depth chart Wednesday by bringing back a familiar face: veteran edge rusher Preston Smith. The move — announced amid a flurry of injury-driven roster changes — reunites the 10-year veteran with the franchise that drafted him in the second round in 2015. For a Commanders team suddenly thin on pass rushers and dealing with multiple injuries, Smith’s arrival is a pragmatic, experience-first response that could stabilize the edge rotation and buy the team time while younger players recover and acclimate. Commanders+1

Why this signing matters now

Timing is everything in the NFL. Washington’s front office made the call after losing Deatrich Wise Jr. to a season-ending quadriceps injury and placing cornerback Jonathan Jones on injured reserve — moves that left holes on both the defensive line and in the secondary. With those losses and the physical toll of the early season already mounting, the Commanders needed a dependable, immediate option — and Preston Smith fits that bill. The team announced the signing as part of a group of roster adjustments intended to shore up depth in the trenches. The Washington Post+1

A quick look at Preston Smith’s résumé

Smith’s career is built on consistency and productivity. Standing 6-foot-5 and roughly 265 pounds, he came into the league as a second-round pick out of Mississippi State and quickly established himself as a reliable starter and quarterback disruptor. Across stints with Washington (2015–2018), the Green Bay Packers, and most recently the Pittsburgh Steelers, Smith has been praised for his work ethic, durability, and knack for generating pressure — compiling roughly 70.5 career sacks in 163 games played (138 starts). Those numbers tell a story: Smith is not just a veteran body, but a legitimate playmaker who knows how to finish around the quarterback. NFL.com+1

What Washington is getting: role and expectations

This is not a blockbuster trade, nor is it a franchise-altering free-agent splurge. Instead, the Commanders are acquiring a well-rounded, experienced edge who can rotate with younger pass rushers and provide situational pressure on obvious passing downs. Expect Smith to slot into a rotation that includes Dorance Armstrong, Javontae Jean-Baptiste, and others — bringing veteran savvy to stunts, gap discipline, and pass-rush counters that younger players sometimes lack.

Head coach Dan Quinn’s defensive scheme values versatility and gap integrity; a player like Smith, who can set the edge in the run game and convert to a stand-up rusher on passing downs, fits the schematic profile Quinn prefers. Beyond on-field snaps, Smith’s experience also matters in the locker room: mentoring younger defensive linemen, helping them process game-to-game adjustments, and offering a steadier presence when injuries force the coaching staff to mix and match lineups. AtoZ Sports+1

Schematics and fit: how Smith’s game complements the Commanders

Smith isn’t the quickest edge rusher in terms of straight-line speed, but he excels at using l
everage, hand technique, and counter moves to win reps. In a defense that often deploys a variety of fronts and relies on rotational pass-rush packages, his skill set is useful for keeping quarterbacks unsettled late in games. He’s also proven in setting the edge on run downs — an underrated trait when you consider that rotations and late-game aggression can hinge on whether backups hold the edge against power runs.

Under defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., the unit has been experimenting with pressures and zone-rush concepts; adding a smart, experienced edge like Smith increases the playbook’s reliability because he can execute complex assignments without needing a trial-by-fire learning curve. That gives Whitt more confidence dialing in pressures, knowing he has an edge who can both rush the passer and maintain assignment discipline. The Washington Post+1

Health, durability, and what the numbers say

One reason the Commanders likely felt comfortable making this call is Smith’s track record of availability. Counting starts and games played across a decade is a strong signal for a league that punishes unavailable players. While age and wear naturally factor into projections — Smith is in his early 30s — his recent seasons showed he can still contribute: in the 2024 season he played 17 games and registered meaningful production (including 4½ sacks across stints with Green Bay and Pittsburgh). For a team needing rotational production rather than a year-long pass-rush leader, that’s valuable. The Washington Post+1

The financials: what we know (and what we don’t)

As is often the case with midseason veteran pickups, precise contract terms either haven’t been released or are modest enough to fly under the usual headline-grabbing radar. The Commanders announced the signing and corresponding roster moves (including placing Jonathan Jones on IR to clear a spot), but team statements have not disclosed the full financial details. That’s standard when short-term depth is the objective; teams generally balance cap pragmatism with the immediate need to replace production lost to injury. Until the contract is posted in the NFL transaction logs or the team’s official release includes terms, it’s safest to treat the deal as a practical, short-term investment. Commanders+1

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Possible downsides and what to watch

No signing is risk-free. Smith’s age and cumulative wear mean the Commanders should temper expectations: he’s not a multi-year answer to an aging pass-rush corps. Furthermore, integrating even a veteran into a new playbook — albeit a familiar organization for Smith — always takes practice-time and snaps to fully realize potential. Fans should also watch how snap counts are managed: if Smith is asked to play starter-level minutes immediately, fatigue and potential injury risk rise. The optimal approach for Washington is to use him smartly in situations that maximize his strengths while protecting the team’s long-term depth. NFL.com

The emotional side: a homecoming narrative

Beyond X’s and O’s, there’s a narrative element that resonates with fans: this is a former second-round pick coming back to the franchise where he began his career. Reunions like this often have a galvanizing effect in the short term — they remind supporters of past ties and create an emotional lift in the locker room. For younger players, it’s also a reminder that careers have peaks and valleys, and veteran professionals can carve out meaningful roles by staying ready and maintaining standards. Washington’s front office is banking on that intangible lift as much as they are on his playmaking. Newsweek

What this means for the rest of the season

Realistically, Smith’s signing is a smart band-aid designed to patch an immediate need. If he plays as advertised — contributing pressures, helping on run defense, and offering veteran leadership — the Commanders will have bought themselves breathing room to evaluate other options: younger players on the roster, practice-squad call-ups, or even further trade market moves. If the team can maintain defensive continuity while its injured starters recover, this could be the stabilizing move that keeps them competitive in a tightly contested division. If it doesn’t, at least the front office acted proactively instead of waiting for the situation to worsen. The Washington Post+1

Final take: a low-risk, potentially high-reward move

At the end of the day, the Preston Smith signing reads as a pragmatic, low-risk move with upside. Washington gets a proven pass rusher with a history in the organization, a player who can contribute immediately and mentor younger linemen. The team fills a pressing need caused by injury, and the coaching staff gains more flexibility in its defensive scheming. For fans and analysts, the key metrics to track now are snap counts, pressure rates when Smith is on the field, and whether the defense’s overall third-down conversion numbers see improvement. If those indicators move in the right direction, this reunion could be remembered as one of the smarter midseason adjustments the Commanders made. NFL.com+1

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