The Pittsburgh Steelers released veteran edge defender Preston Smith on Friday in a move that was expected because of Smith’s impending $13.4 million salary cap hit for 2025, Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Acquired in a trade-deadline deal from the Green Bay Packers in early November, Smith teamed with Nick Herbig to serve as backups to outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith the rest of the season. Smith had two sacks, 13 tackles (six solo, three for loss) and a fumble recovery while playing 30% of the Steelers’ defensive snaps in the eight games he played.

But Smith was inactive for the Christmas Day loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and for the Steelers’ playoff defeat at the Baltimore Ravens.

A 32-year-old, 10-season veteran, Smith has 70 1/2 career sacks. Acquired for a seventh-round draft pick, Smith had been unhappy with his role in Green Bay.

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