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The Jacksonville Jaguars added to their linebacker group on Wednesday by adding former Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith to the roster, according to multiple reports.
The Jaguars are signing former Super Bowl XLVIII MVP LB Malcolm Smith, per league source. The team was beset by injuries at linebacker in last Sunday's victory over Cincinnati. Smith played for San Francisco the last two seasons. https://t.co/AOZ21jopoX
— Michael DiRocco (@ESPNdirocco) October 22, 2019
Between injuries at the position and rookie linebacker Quincy Williams getting benched mid-game, the Jaguars were hurting for help at the linebacker position. They did bring a player up from the practice squad, but the team also felt the need to add an experienced veteran in Smith.
The former USC linebacker spent his early career with the Seattle Seahawks and most recently was with the San Francisco 49ers, both teams who run very similar schemes as the Jacksonville Jaguars. It makes sense why the Jaguars would target someone like Smith, who never seemed to recover from his torn pectoral in 2017 with the 49ers, as he has lots of experience as a weakside linebacker in similar defensive schemes as Todd Wash runs.
With all the injuries at the group, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Smith play a lot of snaps against the New York Jets on Sunday.
The Jaguars also brought back linebacker Donald Payne and placed tight end Geoff Swaim and D.J. Alexander on injured reserve.