Giants sign LB Jaylon Smith to practice squad

Jaylon Smith is heading to his third team this season and second in the NFC East. The linebacker has been signed to the Giants practice squad, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 

The 26-year-old played four seasons in Dallas after being drafted by the Cowboys, but was released on October 5. He ranked second in the league in tackles with 154 in 2020, but he was let go after he declined to waive his injury guarantee for the 2022 campaign. That left the Cowboys on the hook for $7.2M in dead money, but allowed them to move forward with their linebacking corps headed by first-round rookie Micah Parsons.

Smith caught on with another NFC contender, quickly signing with the Packers. He played just 27 snaps across two games with Green Bay, however, registering only one tackle. In November, he was let go for the second time this year.

Smith will now join a Giants team whose linebackers have been “hit by the flu,” according to the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard. His first opportunity to play for his newest team will come on Sunday, against the Cowboys of all opponents.