Roquan

Smith

Smith left in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Steelers and did not return. If we don’t have an update before Thursday, then the most we’ll know about his Week 12 availability will come when the team releases its first injury report. The Ravens face the Chargers on Monday night, giving Smith an extra day to heal up. He briefly attempted to play through the injury, so it’s possible some rest and rehab is all he’ll need to avoid missing Week 12.

Smith was being evaluated in the blue tent late in the third quarter but returned to the field. Early in the fourth quarter, the Ravens’ star linebacker exited the field and was spotted without his helmet soon after. He was ruled out shortly after exiting, ending his day with 13 tackles and two TFLs.

Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the “simple restructure” of Smith’s deal frees up $4.875 million in cap space for the Ravens, giving them a little more room to spend if necessary. Smith is entering his second full season with the Ravens after being traded at the 2022 deadline. Smith totaled 158 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one interception last season and is under contract through 2027.

Oweh returned from a four-game absence because of the ankle issue last week. He played a limited role but tallied one sack and forced a fumble. He was added to the injury report as a limited participant on Thursday before being downgraded to a DNP on Friday. His status for Week 8 is shaky at best. Roquan Smith, who missed Wednesday’s practice with a shoulder issue, is good to go.

Smith did not show a major indication of injury during Sunday’s win against the Lions, but starts the week missing practice with an apparent shoulder injury. He is the Ravens’ top linebacker and centerpiece of their defense. Losing Smith would be a big hit to the Ravens defense for Week 8 against the Cardinals and his status is worth monitoring throughout the week.

After acquiring Smith near the trade deadline for a second-round pick, they hand him a record-breaking extension. Smith’s reported guaranteed money is tops at the off-ball linebacker position, slightly higher than the $43 million C.J. Mosley got when he left the Ravens to join the Jets. Smith finished the season with an 84.7 PFF grade for the Ravens and keyed a defensive turnaround for the unit. He’ll be a linchpin for the Ravens going forward. Taking care of their second-biggest free-agent-to-be also frees up Baltimore to use the franchise tag on Lamar Jackson should they desire.

The Bears have now traded a key member of their defense in back-to-back weeks, after trading defensive end Robert Quinn to the Eagles last week. Smith, has appeared in all eight games for the Bears this season, totaling 83 tackles, four TFLs and 2.5 sacks. The former No. 8 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft is a two-time Second-team All-Pro (2020, 2021) and is in the final year of his rookie contract. Baltimore will likely look to re-sign Smith next offseason, but will also need to work out a long-overdue deal with quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Ravens also sent linebacker A.J. Klein to the Bears in exchange for Smith.

Smith didn’t practice all week, but the Bears are still playing him. Meanwhile, CB Jaylon Johnson (quad), a surprise DNP on Friday is out. Also inactive for the Bears are WR Velus Jones (hamstring), S Dane Cruikshank (hamstring), TE Ryan Griffin (Achilles), LB Matt Adams (hamstring), and OL Ja’Tyre Carter. The only interesting name here from a fantasy perspective is Jones, who hasn’t played in any of the first three contests of the season and has barely practiced with a long-term hamstring injury.

Smith didn’t practice all week with the hip injury. We’d consider him on the pessimistic side of questionable. If he’s out, it’s another red flag for a Bears defense that struggled to stop Aaron Jones on Sunday. It’s also a very interesting situation for suddenly volume-heavy Texans back Dameon Pierce to find himself in on Sunday.

Smith has missed back-to-back days with a hip injury. Chicago DC Alan Williams seemed upbeat on the possibility that Smith would play on Sunday when he talked about it Thursday, but Smith is likely closer to questionable at this point. If he can’t go, it’s an upgrade for Texans runner Dameon Pierce, who was already an enticing play against a Bears defense that let Aaron Jones run wild on them last Sunday.