The Browns have placed Smith on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
With the Browns out of the playoff picture, it would appear unlikely he'll clear the league's health and safety protocols in order to suit up again this season. If he is unable to, Jacob Phillips would be next in line to back up Anthony Walker at middle linebacker for Sunday's season finale.
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Browns' Malcolm Smith: Double-digit tackles
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Smith recorded 10 tackles (nine solo) with a pass defensed in a 15-10 loss to the Steelers on Sunday.
Smith had his highest tackle total of the season on just 37 snaps. Despite the solid performance Smith's rotational role in the Browns defense doesn't provide a lot of fantasy value. Smith and the Browns defense will travel to Cincinnati in Week 9 for a divisional showdown.
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Browns' Malcolm Smith: Questionable for Week 5
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Smith (abdomen) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chargers.
Smith returned to practice on a limited basis Friday after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday. The veteran linebacker has posted a pair of eight-tackle performances in the last three games while filling in for Anthony Walker (hamstring), who has been designated to return from IR. If Walker's activated prior to Sunday's game, he'll likely push Smith back to a reserve role, regardless of Smith's health.
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Browns' Malcolm Smith: Back in Cleveland
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The Browns re-signed Smith to a one-year deal Wednesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Smith was a solid rotational linebacker for Cleveland last season, finishing second on the team with 72 tackles across 15 contests. The Super Bowl XLVIII MVP remains an exceptional defender in coverage, but his usage doesn't lend itself to high-end fantasy production in IDP formats.
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Browns' Malcolm Smith: Tests positive for COVID-19
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Smith (illness) will be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after returning a positive test, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Smith is thereby ruled out for the regular-season finale against the Steelers, which should allow Mack Wilson and Elijah Lee to handle increased snaps. The veteran linebacker will have to clear all requisite COVID-related protocols before being cleared to return.
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Browns' Malcolm Smith: Avoids inactive list
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Smith (hamstring) is active Week 16 against the Jets.
Smith has steadily seen action at weakside linebacker throughout the season for Cleveland, and after ramping up his participation in practice this week, he'll ultimately be available to bolster a position group struck by COVID-related absences. Cleveland is listing Tae Davis as the starter in place of B.J. Goodson (COVID), while Mack Wilson is officially getting the nod at Smith's position. Nonetheless, unless Smith was kept active as an emergency option, he should be rotated in somewhat frequently.
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Browns' Malcolm Smith: Deemed questionable
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Smith (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Jets, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Smith played 32 defensive snaps for the Browns in Week 15, racking up four tackles (three solo) against the Giants. He missed practice Wednesday with a hamstring injury, but he was a limited participant Thursday and Friday. If he's unable to play Sunday, Elijah Lee could see increased work for Cleveland.
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Browns' Malcolm Smith: Posts first sack
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Smith recorded seven tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in Sunday's 41-35 win over the Titans.
Smith was part of a gargantuan defensive effort by the Browns in the first half. They held off the surging Titans in the second half, but the defense forced three turnovers and stifled Derrick Henry, the league's leading rusher. The sack was Smith's first of the season and first since 2015.
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Browns' Malcolm Smith: Set for start
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Smith is expected to start at weak side linebacker for Sunday's game against Washington, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
The 31-year-old saw a huge uptick in Week 2 with 56 snaps, while racking up nine tackles (five solo). Expect a similar workload for Smith with the start, as he's tasked with slowing down a less-than-stellar Washington offense.
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Browns' Malcolm Smith: Heads to Cleveland
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Smith signed a contract with the Browns on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The former Super Bowl MVP found a new landing spot after bouncing between the 49ers, Jaguars and Cowboys last year. The 31-year-old has struggled to stay healthy and has played just 16 games over the last three seasons, but he'll add veteran depth to a linebacker corps that just lost Mack Wilson (knee) long-term.
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Malcolm Smith: Parts ways with Jags
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Smith was waived by Jacksonville on Tuesday.
Smith joined the Jaguars on Oct. 22 and did not play a defensive snap in his two games with the team. The veteran linebacker will hope to latch on elsewhere via the waiver wire or free agency.
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Jaguars' Malcolm Smith: Heads to Jacksonville
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Smith signed a contract with the Jaguars on Tuesday, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports.
Smith was let go by the 49ers toward the end of the preseason after recording only 35 tackles over 12 games in 2018. The 30-year-old will provide some linebacker depth for the Jaguars with Najee Goode recovering from a foot injury and D.J. Alexander (foot) moving to injured reserve.
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49ers' Malcolm Smith: Returns from injury
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Smith (hamstring) returned to practice Tuesday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Smith missed the 49ers' first preseason contest but he could suit up for their second exhibition game against the Broncos on Monday. The oft-injured linebacker will compete for the starting outside linebacker job with rookie Dre Greenlaw this preseason.
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49ers' Malcolm Smith: Out for OTAs
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Smith hasn't been participating in the 49ers' OTAs this week due to an Achilles' injury, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
It's unclear when Smith picked up the injury, but it's apparently serious enough to hold him out of the early stages of offseason training. The 29-year-old saw action in 12 games for San Francisco last season, recording 35 tackles (22 solo). If healthy for training camp, Smith should be in contention for a starting role at linebacker.
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49ers' Malcolm Smith: Restructures deal with Niners
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Smith agreed to a restructured contract in order to remain with the 49ers, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
The specifics of Smith's deal aren't available, but his salary was significantly reduced from the $3.75 million he was initially due. Smith has only played in 12 games over two years with San Francisco, recording 35 tackles (22 solo) and a pass breakup while averaging just 28 defensive snaps per game. He'll likely face competition in camp for the starting job again.
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49ers' Malcolm Smith: Loses starting job late in year
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Smith finished with 35 tackles (22 solo) in 12 games this season.
Smith missed the first two games of the season due to a hamstring injury sustained during training camp. Once he returned, he took over the starting Sam position alongside Reuben Foster and opposite Fred Warner. As the season progressed, Foster was released, pushing Warner to the middle and Smith to a more prominent starting weakside linebacker role. The veteran did not perform terribly in his five starts, but with the 49ers well out of contention, the team opted to start the younger Elijah Lee over Smith. Lee thrived in the starting role and appears to be the favorite to start alongside Warner to begin the 2019 season. Smith still has three years left on the five-year, $26.5 million contract he signed in 2017, which is a lot of money to have riding the pine. If the 29-year-old is unable to secure a starting job in the offseason, it wouldn't be surprising to see him either cut or traded.
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49ers' Malcolm Smith: No longer on injury report
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Smith (hamstring) didn't appear on Wednesday's injury report.
Smith appears to be fully recovered from a hamstring injury he suffered in the preseason that caused him to miss the 49ers' first two games. Barring a setback, Smith should make his season debut Sunday against the Chiefs.
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49ers' Malcolm Smith: Inactive for Sunday
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Smith (hamstring) is listed as inactive for Sunday's game against the Lions.
Smith will not make his 49ers debut Week 2, due to a lingering hamstring injury sustained in the preseason. Elijah Lee should see an increased defensive role as long as Smith remains sidelined.
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49ers' Malcolm Smith: Listed as questionable
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Smith (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Lions, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Smith is still looking to make his debut with the 49ers. His hamstring injury was sustained in the preseason opener and has lingered ever since. Because these issues can be tricky, Smith will likely be limited to some degree if he does suit up. He's notched 225 tackles, four sacks, nine pass breakups and two interceptions over the last two seasons with the Raiders,
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49ers' Malcolm Smith: Doubtful for Week 1
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Smith (hamstring) is doubtful for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Vikings, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Smith was limited in practice all week after injuring his hamstring early in the preseason. Elijah Lee stands next in line to see a starter's share of snaps at weak-side linebacker.
