Washington Commanders signing veteran edge rusher Preston Smith after Deatrich Wise injury

The Washington Commanders are signing veteran edge rusher Preston Smith, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Smith, 32, is back in Washington for a second stint.

He spent the first four years of his career with the Commanders, who selected him in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State. Smith compiled 24.5 sacks, 59 quarterback hits, 168 tackles, four interceptions and four forced fumbles in 64 games during his first stint in Washington.

Smith signed a four-year, $52 million deal with the Green Bay Packers in 2019. He remained productive up until this past season when his performance dipped, in part, due to a defensive scheme change in Green Bay. Smith tallied just 2.5 sacks in nine games for the Packers, who traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers at his request. He had two sacks in eight games with the Steelers. Pittsburgh released him in February, a move which saved them $13 million in 2025 cap space.

Reunion in Washington: Commanders adding Preston Smith for second stint

Smith will look to regain his form in Washington, and he’ll have every opportunity to do so after Deatrich Wise suffered a season-ending quad injury in the Week 2 defeat to the Packers last Thursday. Wise, 31, signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Commanders this offseason after spending eight seasons with the New England Patriots.

With Wise out for the remainder of the season, the onus will be on Smith, Von Miller, Dorance Armstrong, Javontae Jean-Baptiste and others to get to opposing quarterbacks. Head coach Dan Quinn knows it will be difficult to replace Wise.

“Yeah, we’ll have to adjust for sure,” Quinn said. “And the size and the strength that Deatrich plays with on the edge, that’s a real thing, and so we’ll mix it around.”