First Call: Why the Packers gave Preston Smith to Pittsburgh; roster adjustments after Steelers' trades

There’s some residue to sort through on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster after their two trade deadline pickups. We try to find answers as to why the Packers were so willing to part ways with Preston Smith. There are injury issues to watch in Baltimore and Cincinnati.

And the Ravens are attempting to fix a weak link on their team.

Moves to be made

There has been some fallout on the Steelers’ roster after the trade acquisition of New York Jets receiver Mike Williams.

In order to make room for Williams, the organization waived wide receiver Andy Isabella. However, if Isabella clears waivers, he will be eligible to rejoin the Steelers practice squad.

Drafted by Arizona out of UMass in 2019, Isabella spent four years with the Cardinals. He was with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022 and Buffalo Bills in 2023. The 27-year-old signed on with the Steelers’ practice squad on Oct. 25.

In 33 career games, Isabella has 33 receptions for 447 yards and three touchdowns. His younger brother, Joey, is a star receiver at Duquesne.

The Steelers have also signed defensive tackle Domenique Davis to their practice squad. That came off of the NFL transactions page for Tuesday.

The 28-year-old had most recently been with the Cincinnati Bengals, who released him on Oct. 22. He had been in Cincinnati for three years, playing in two games.

Tight end Rodney Williams was released from the active roster, and linebacker Craig Young was waived from the practice squad on Tuesday.

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Pressed out of town

Why were the Green Bay Packers willing to send the Steelers 31-year-old pass rusher Preston Smith for just a seventh-round pick?

Here is an explanation from Zach Kruse of Packers Wire (USA Today). It sounds as if the Packers are just trying to create room for some younger players.

“Smith turns 32 years old later this month and has just 10 pressures in nine games, and the Packers have been playing Lukas Van Ness and Kingsley Enagbare more and more at defensive end opposite Rashan Gary.

With Smith in Pittsburgh, the Packers can also start adding Arron Mosby and Brenton Cox Jr. into the pass-rushing rotation.

Last week, Smith played fewer snaps than both Van Ness and Enagbare, and Mosby — who had a half-sack — made his debut at defensive end. Smith played only five snaps as a pass-rusher.”

A quote from Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst in “The Athletic” lends some substance to that analysis. “Whenever you move off a player like Preston Smith, you’re a couple injuries away from, ‘Man, that may not have been the best thing,’” Gutekunst said Tuesday. “But at the same time, I really do like our depth. … I think allowing these two guys (Mosby and Cox) to get on the field a little bit and maybe some snaps to go to some other guys, too, I think, will help us.”

Smith has just six tackles this year but 2.5 sacks. He totaled 25.5 sacks over the previous three years.

Baltimore trying to get better

One of the Steelers’ AFC North rivals attempted to aid their secondary before Tuesday’s trade deadline.

The Baltimore Ravens acquired cornerback Tre’Davious White from the Los Angeles Rams. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the clubs also swapped seventh-round picks in the deal.

Trade: Rams are sending CB Tre'Davious White and a 2027 7th-round pick to the Ravens for a 2026 7th-round pick, per sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 5, 2024

Baltimore’s defense can use the help. The Ravens are last in the NFL in passing yards allowed (280.9) and 23rd in points allowed per game (24.3).

White was a first-team All-Pro in 2019 and a second-team All-Pro in 2020 with the Bills. He missed the last 12 games of the 2023 season with an Achilles tendon tear and was released in March. The Rams signed him to a one-year, $10 million deal but have decided to move on.

The 29-year-old gave up four touchdowns over a four-game stretch and started to become a healthy scratch in L.A. last month. That’s when Los Angeles allowed him to pursue a trade. But the Ravens feel that they need bodies and options in the secondary.

Birds and Bengals

Some injury concerns have cropped up for Thursday night’s big AFC North showdown between the Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.

In Baltimore, quarterback Lamar Jackson didn’t practice Tuesday thanks to a knee injury, according to the team’s practice report. He wasn’t designated with an injury Monday. However, John Harbaugh insisted Jackson will play Thursday against the Bengals.

Won't speak to him missing practice, but John Harbaugh says Lamar Jackson will play Thursday night against Cincinnati. pic.twitter.com/iYhKzl7l71

— Morgan Adsit (@MorganAdsit) November 5, 2024

Jackson, who missed two practice days last week with back and knee issues, had a perfect passer rating during Sunday’s 41-10 blowout over Denver. However, he ran only three times for 4 yards.

Meanwhile, in Cincinnati, wide receiver Tee Higgins didn’t play last week against the Las Vegas Raiders because of a quad. As of Tuesday, ProFootballTalk.com says he still wasn’t back at practice for the Bengals. However, Orlando Brown Jr. returned to practice as a limited participant Tuesday despite knee/fibula concerns. Defensive end Sam Hubbard (hamstring) returned to full practice participation.