Commanders Add Former Bears Cornerback Terell Smith to Practice Squad
The Washington Commanders continued adding depth to their secondary Tuesday, signing former Chicago Bears cornerback Terell Smith to their practice squad.
Washington officially announced the transaction Tuesday afternoon. Smith becomes the 17th player listed on the Commanders’ practice squad, with defensive lineman Jeffrey M’Ba occupying an International Player Pathway exemption.
The move gives Washington another experienced defensive back who has already started games at the NFL level. Smith, 27, spent his first three NFL seasons with Chicago after the Bears selected him in the fifth round, No. 165 overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Minnesota.
Smith brings NFL experience to Washington
Smith stands 6-foot and weighs 207 pounds, giving the Commanders a physical cornerback with good size for the position. He appeared in 26 games and made six starts during his first two seasons on the field with Chicago.
According to the Commanders’ official statistics, Smith has recorded 68 combined tackles, 48 solo tackles, 10 passes defended, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery during his NFL career.
Smith immediately contributed as a rookie in 2023. He appeared in 12 games with four starts and finished the season with 49 combined tackles, six passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
He followed that performance by playing 14 games and starting twice in 2024. Smith registered 19 combined tackles, four passes defended and the first interception of his NFL career.
His momentum was interrupted by a significant injury.
Injury cost Smith the entire 2025 season
Smith suffered a torn patellar tendon that ultimately wiped out his 2025 season. He spent the year on injured reserve and returned to compete for a roster spot with Chicago this summer.
The Bears ultimately decided to move in another direction during final roster cuts. Chicago officially waived Smith on Aug. 30 while reducing its roster to the NFL’s 53-player limit.
His departure was notable because Smith showed some encouraging signs during the preseason. He recorded two pass breakups in Chicago’s preseason finale against Tennessee, according to reports surrounding his release. Chicago had also acquired cornerback Clark Phillips III in a trade with Atlanta, adding competition to an already crowded secondary.
Rather than remaining available for long, Smith has landed with Washington.
Commanders continue building cornerback depth
Smith joins a practice squad that already contains several defensive backs. Washington retained Fred Davis II and Darius Rush and subsequently added veterans Isaac Yiadom and Smith.
That makes Smith more than simply a developmental signing. He has six NFL starts and meaningful regular-season experience, making him a potential option should Washington need additional help in the secondary during the season.
Practice-squad players can be elevated for game days, and injuries inevitably test NFL depth charts as a season progresses. Having someone with Smith’s experience available without occupying a spot on the initial 53-man roster gives Washington additional flexibility.
There is also some upside involved. Smith’s first two NFL seasons showed that he can contribute when healthy. Ten passes defended in 26 games is respectable production for a player who was never a full-time starter.
The major question is whether he can regain his pre-injury form after losing an entire season to the patellar tendon injury.
From Minnesota to the NFL
Before reaching the NFL, Smith spent five seasons at Minnesota and developed into an experienced Big Ten defensive back. His combination of size and athleticism helped him become a fifth-round selection by Chicago in 2023.
The Bears initially signed him to a four-year rookie contract worth approximately $4.1 million, but his tenure ended before the final year of that deal after Chicago’s roster overhaul this summer.
Washington now gets an opportunity to evaluate him without making an immediate commitment to an active-roster position.
MSB Take
This is exactly the type of practice-squad signing the Commanders should be making.
Washington is not simply filling a spot with an inexperienced camp player. Smith is only 27 and already has 26 NFL games, six starts and 10 passes defended on his résumé. There is legitimate NFL experience here.
The injury history is the obvious concern. A torn patellar tendon is significant, and Smith essentially has to prove that he can become the player he was before missing the entire 2025 season.
But there is very little downside for Washington. If Smith cannot regain that form, he remains a depth player on the practice squad. If he does, the Commanders may have found an experienced corner capable of providing meaningful snaps during a long season.
Washington has clearly made secondary depth a priority while constructing the bottom of the roster and practice squad. Adding Smith gives the Commanders another veteran option and creates additional competition behind the corners on the active roster.
For a team preparing for the 2026 season, that is a worthwhile gamble.
