Injury Puts Steelers Training Camp Standout Brandon Smith’s Roster Hopes in Jeopardy
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Brandon Smith had been one of the most impressive players in training camp, but an injury has temporarily stalled his progress at a critical point in the preseason.
Smith remains sidelined as the Steelers return to the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex following their three-week stay at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. He also missed Pittsburgh’s final two practices at training camp, raising questions about whether he will be able to return before the preseason comes to an end.
How Smith Was Injured
Smith entered Pittsburgh’s preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 13 with plenty of attention surrounding him after an impressive stretch of training camp.
The 27-year-old caught both passes thrown his way for 13 yards. However, he appeared to suffer an injury while playing on punt coverage and did not return to the game afterward.
The injury came at an unfortunate time for Smith, who had been building considerable momentum throughout camp. His recovery timeline remains uncertain.
Can Smith Still Make the Steelers?
Smith had earned first-team opportunities during camp and developed chemistry with several Steelers quarterbacks, including Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers, who was Smith’s teammate with the New York Jets in 2024, was particularly impressed with the receiver’s performance during Pittsburgh’s Aug. 8 Saturday Night Lights practice. Rodgers highlighted Smith as one of the biggest standouts from the session and praised the number of plays he made.
Smith also has a previous connection with Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. He originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 2021 and spent two seasons on their practice squad while McCarthy was Dallas’ head coach.
Even before the injury, Smith faced an uphill battle to make Pittsburgh’s 53-man roster. The Steelers entered camp with several receivers seemingly ahead of him on the depth chart, including DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, Germie Bernard, Kaden Wetjen and Ben Skowronek.
That makes keeping a seventh receiver difficult from a roster-building standpoint. Still, Smith’s strong camp performances were forcing the Steelers to take notice.
Now, however, the injury could severely hurt his chances of surviving final roster cuts. The Steelers have not revealed the exact nature or severity of the injury, leaving his immediate future uncertain.
If Smith is ultimately released and clears waivers, a return to Pittsburgh’s practice squad could be a realistic possibility, assuming he is healthy enough to continue playing. That would give the Steelers a chance to keep developing a player who had already made a strong impression during camp and potentially bring him onto the active roster later in the season.
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