Steelers add Terell Smith to active roster in second cornerback move

The Steelers signed cornerback Terell Smith to their 53-man roster Tuesday from Washington’s practice squad, adding a second cornerback in consecutive days. Pittsburgh confirmed the move in its afternoon transaction announcement.

Smith’s signing places him on the active roster. The team’s announcement does not identify a starting assignment or promise a particular defensive workload. His arrival follows Monday’s addition of Sean Murphy-Bunting from Tampa Bay’s practice squad, as reported by Steel Curtain Network.

Smith entered the NFL with Chicago as the 165th overall selection in the fifth round of the 2023 draft. The Steelers credit him with 26 career appearances and six starts during his time with the Bears. His career totals include 68 tackles, four tackles for loss, 10 passes defensed and one interception, along with one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

His recent history includes a full season away from game action. Pittsburgh’s account says a knee injury landed him on injured reserve for the 2025 season. Smith joined Washington’s practice squad at the start of this season before the Steelers signed him Tuesday.

Smith played at Minnesota, appearing in 37 games over five seasons. Pittsburgh lists his college totals as 109 tackles, six and a half tackles for loss, 16 passes defensed and four interceptions. That background and his NFL appearances give the Steelers another experienced player to assess in their cornerback group.

Steel Curtain Network reported Tuesday that Smith had been observed in Pittsburgh’s locker room before the official transaction announcement. The team’s subsequent release confirms both his destination and the active-roster status of the move.

The Steelers also announced linebacker K.J. Henry’s practice-squad signing and the release of linebacker Bradyn Swinson from that group. Henry’s addition was reported earlier Tuesday; Smith’s active-roster signing is the new cornerback development in the afternoon announcement.

Two consecutive cornerback additions change Pittsburgh’s available personnel. The next question is how the Steelers distribute those players’ work once the group practices together.