The Atlanta Falcons are making a change to their roster, but not on the struggling offensive side of the ball.
Atlanta announced on Tuesday that it has signed linebacker Andre Smith Jr. to the 53-man roster. Smith was previously on the team’s practice squad.
To make room for Smith, the Falcons released fellow linebacker Tae Davis.
Smith has spent the entire 2023 season with Atlanta in some capacity. He was with the team in training camp and then joined the Falcons practice squad after the preseason. The Falcons signed Smith to the active roster ahead of Week 3.
Atlanta released Smith after he played in two contests. He then rejoined the team’s practice squad and played in Week 8 as a practice squad elevation.
In three games this season, Smith has posted 1 combined tackle. He has played 3 snaps on defense and 51 special teams snaps.
Smith began his career as a seventh-round pick with the Carolina Panthers in the 2018 NFL draft. In two seasons with the Panthers, he posted 8 combined tackles in 19 contests.
From 2020-21, Smith played 27 contests for the Buffalo Bills. Last season, he appeared in five games for the Tennessee Titans.
He recorded a career-best 10 tackles and a fumble recovery for the Bills in 2021. Smith has posted 34 combined tackles, including 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery in 54 career games.
Smith will replace Davis on Atlanta’s roster. Davis had 2 combined tackles in eight games this season. He played just 1 snap on defense but 174 snaps on special teams.
Only linebacker DeAngelo Malone has recorded more special teams snaps for the Falcons than Davis during 2023.
In his 54 career games, Smith has played at least 60% of his team’s special teams snaps. He lined up for 61% of Atlanta’s snaps on special teams in his three games this season.
