Draft pick Sutton Smith back with Steelers, eager to show what he can do

Sutton Smith never again will get a second chance to make his first NFL impression.

But performing with a torn oblique made that impression increasingly difficult for Smith during his rookie training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“It gets tougher and tougher to make a squad every day when it’s like that, to be honest,” Smith said of his August injury that kept him out of the first two preseason games.

The 6-foot, 238-pound Sutton Smith became one of the most compelling experiments at voluntary organized team activities and mandatory minicamp when the #Steelers gave him reps at fullback, opening the possibility of becoming a two-way player https://t.co/9CvJ5jLo8V

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) August 21, 2019

“But now I’m healthy. It’s definitely better now, so that’s good, and it’s fun and awesome to be back.”

A sixth-round pick who was part of the final cutdown before the regular season, Smith was brought back to the practice squad Wednesday.

Drafted as an outside linebacker but with inside linebacker a possible pro landing spot, Smith was a star high school running back who took practice reps at fullback during organized team activities. On Wednesday, Smith took reps at outside linebacker … and running back — though both were part of the scout team.

“I don’t think (coaches) are serious about (me playing running back),” Smith said with a chuckle.

But it’s apparent the Steelers coaches are serious about giving Smith another look after they didn’t even find a spot for him on its initial practice squad after an injury-riddled preseason.

Still, what made Smith attractive to the Steelers in the draft is still there: a consensus All-American and two-time Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year who had 29 sacks his final two seasons.

Two-time first team All-American ✅
Two-time MAC Defensive Player of the Year ✅

Here's what Sutton Smith brings to the field.#SteelersDraft | @suttonsmith5 pic.twitter.com/4rA2FVA81H

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 27, 2019

Smith spent a week on the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad last month. He said having a base of understanding of the Steelers defensive scheme puts him in a better place now then he was over the summer.

“The beginning of this (NFL) process was kind of rough for me because I was injured a little bit, and you really can’t do anything when you’re injured,” Smith said. “So it’s just kind of getting back into it. I went through the hard part of the NFL, where you get released and you kind of bounce around from team to team, and then you get picked back up.

“So it’s definitely a relief coming back here to a team that will fit me, and I fit their system. It should be a fun ride, hopefully get back on the field and work my way up.”

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.