Cowboys dump TE Jarwin, K Zuerlein for modest cap savings
The Dallas Cowboys have waived tight end Blake Jarwin and released kicker Greg Zuerlein in moves that bring modest savings under the salary capMARCH 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
ITO SMITH
Sticking with Cowboys Smith signed a future/reserve contract with the Cowboys on Monday.
Impact Smith signed with Dallas' practice squad Dec. 8 after spending time on the Cardinals' and Vikings' rosters during the preseason. The fourth-year back was elevated to the Cowboys' active roster once in Week 18 while Tony Pollard was out due to a foot injury. He finished the game with one carry for four yards and a touchdown on his first NFL carry since Week 17 of 2020.
JANUARY 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Shifts back to practice squad Smith reverted to the Cowboys' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Impact Smith was active for the first time this season in Dallas' regular-season finale due to the absence of Tony Pollard (foot). He earned only one carry, but he made it count by plunging into the end zone from four yards away. Smith spent time with the Vikings during training camp before joining the Cowboys' practice squad Dec. 8, and he'll hit free agency at the close of the campaign.
JANUARY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Ito Smith Postgame Week 18 ' #DALvsPHI Running back Ito Smith shares his thoughts following a 51-26 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
JANUARY 9, 2022 • DALLASCOWBOYS.COM
Ito Smith Powers Through Eagles Defense for TD Dallas Cowboys running back Ito Smith powers his way through the Philadelphia Eagles defense for a touchdown.
JANUARY 9, 2022 • DALLASCOWBOYS.COM
Elevated from practice squad The Cowboys elevated Smith from their practice squad Saturday.
Impact Smith joined the Cowboys' practice squad in early December and will provide additional depth in the backfield since Tony Pollard (foot) has been ruled out. Smith appeared in 14 games with Atlanta last year but hasn't yet made a regular-season appearance in 2021.
JANUARY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Sees first action as Cardinal Smith gained six yards on two carries in Friday's preseason win over the Cowboys.
Impact Having only signed with Arizona in the last week, Smith didn't get on the field until late in the fourth quarter, gaining 11 yards on his first tote but then losing five on his second carry. The former Falcon is expected to fill a depth role in the backfield behind Chase Edmonds and James Conner (COVID-19 list/toe), a role that could lead to some regular-season volume given Conner's injury history, but second-year back Eno Benjamin had a big game Friday and could wind up being a serious obstacle to Smith securing the No. 3 spot on the depth chart.
AUGUST 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Arizona Cardinals add depth to backfield, sign RB Ito Smith
The Arizona Cardinals have signed running back Ito SmithAUGUST 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Joins Arizona Smith signed a contract with the Cardinals on Saturday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official sitereports.
Impact It was somewhat surprising to see Smith without a team throughout the entire offseason after being waived by the Falcons back in April, but this ends up being a nice landing spot with the unproven Chase Edmonds and injury-prone James Conner (toe) atop the depth chart. The 25-year-old has essentially been a depth piece throughout his first three years in the league, playing more than 150 snaps every season while simultaneously never exceeding more than 310 in a given campaign, and it's hard to imagine that status changing much in Arizona. Smith has averaged over four yards a carry each of the past two seasons with the Falcons, but he's hardly known as a burner considering he's recorded just two carries of 20-plus yards across 175 totes.
AUGUST 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Falcons Latest Roster Move Could Reveal Draft Plans When it comes to the NFL draft, teams like to keep their plans a secret to prevent rival organizations from interfering with their plans. Ho...
APRIL 15, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM
Let go by Falcons The Falcons have waved Smith.
Impact The move comes in the wake of the team's signing of the versatile Cordarrelle Patterson and quite possibly foreshadows the addition of a second or third-round running back in the upcoming NFL Draft, per Tori McElhaney of The Athletic. Smith finished the 2020 campaign -- his third with the Falcons -- with 268 rushing yards and one TD in 63 rushing attempts, to go along with 75 receiving yards on 17 catches. The 25-year-old now will look to catch on elsewhere as a depth back.
APRIL 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Falcons Release Ito Smith Falcons release running back after three seasons
APRIL 15, 2021 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM
Safety Harmon, return specialist Patterson sign with Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons have signed safety Duron Harmon and four-time All-Pro return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson to one-year contractsAPRIL 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ends season with quiet outing Smith carried the ball three times for nine yards, adding a seven-yard catch during Sunday's 44-27 loss to the Buccaneers.
Impact Smith was limited throughout the practice week because of a rib injury, providing context for his reduced Week 17 role. Atlanta found itself in a pass-heavy game script facing a significant halftime deficit, but Brian Hill and Todd Gurley still combined for 18 carries atop the Falcons backfield. Smith had been enjoying an uptick in usage in recent weeks, with double-digit carries over three of his five most recent outings entering Sunday. The 25-year-old closes out the year with 268 rushing yards and one TD over 63 attempts, adding 75 receiving yards on 17 catches. He's under contract with the Falcons for one more season at a cap hit of $1.1 million.
JANUARY 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Cleared for Week 17 Smith (rib) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Jason Butt of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Impact Smith was limited in each of the Falcons' three practices this week, but that was enough for him to gain clearance for the season finale. The third-year back has taken over as Atlanta's lead running back role in recent games, nearly doubling up Todd Gurley in carries (35-19) since Week 13. With Atlanta's playoff hopes having long since disappeared, the team might as well see what it has in Smith, who, unlike Gurley, remains under contract beyond this season. Smith's 4.5 yards-per-carry average on 82 attempts the past two seasons shows the 25-year-old has the ability to be an efficient NFL back. The end zone has eluded him, however, as he has just two touchdowns in 20 appearances over the same span.
JANUARY 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Maintains limited practice activity Smith (rib) was a limited participant at Thursday's practice, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
Impact Smith's rib injury kept him from logging full activity for the second straight day, so the Falcons may want to see him increase his involvement in Friday's practice before signing off on him playing Sunday in Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old has been the leader of Atlanta's backfield committee over the past four weeks, but that role hasn't proven fantasy-friendly. He's failed to score a touchdown in any of those four contests while averaging 40.8 yards from srimmage per game.
DECEMBER 31, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Limited in practice Smith was limited in Wednesday's practice due to a rib injury, Jason Butt of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Impact Smith led the Atlanta backfield for a fourth consecutive contest Week 16 against the Chiefs, carrying 10 times for 46 yards. He appears to have injured his ribs in the process, but as long as Smith is able to continue practicing in at least a limited capacity Thursday and Friday, he should have a fair shot at suiting up Sunday in Tampa Bay on Sunday. If Smith is ruled out of the contest, however, Todd Gurley, Brian Hill and Qadree Ollison would likely split work out of the backfield.
DECEMBER 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Leads team with 10 carries Smith ran for 46 yards on 10 carries, reeling in his only target for a five-yard gain during Sunday's 17-14 loss to the Chiefs. He also fumbled once, but the ball rolled out of bou...
Impact Smith continued to lead the Falcons backfield in carries during Week 16, just as he had in three consecutive outings entering Sunday's cross-conference showdown. He was inefficient as a rookie in establishing just a 3.5 yards-per-carry average over 90 attempts during 2018, but he's been more effective in 20 appearances the past two seasons. Since Week 11, specifically, Smith is averaging 4.5 yards per attempt. However, he remains with only one total touchdown this season as Atlanta prepares for its 2020 finale against Tampa Bay's No. 1 rush defense.
DECEMBER 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Ito Smith will be Falcons’ lead running back for rest of season Falcons interim coach Raheem Morris said decision came down to Smith’s performance
DECEMBER 22, 2020 • ATLANTAFALCONS.COM
Ito Smith Fantasy Outlook Explodes Following Todd Gurley Update After a string of poor performances by Atlanta Falcons running back Todd Gurley, he has seemingly played himself out of his lead back role....
DECEMBER 21, 2020 • FANDUEL.COM
Perplexing Falcons reach 10 losses with another blown lead
The Atlanta Falcons have reached 10 losses for the first time since 2014DECEMBER 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Named lead back by coach Interim coach Raheem Morris said Monday that Smith is the Falcons' "lead runner," Kelsey Conway of the Falcons' official site reports.
Impact Morris is only making the obvious official, as Smith has outpaced Todd Gurley in carries, 25-15, since Week 13. However, Smith hasn't hit 50 yards from scrimmage or scored in that span, giving him an uncertain fantasy ceiling. D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes that Morris credited Smith's performance as the reason for his rise up the depth chart, rather than an injury to Gurley.
DECEMBER 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Again the team's busiest back Smith collected 24 rushing yards on six carries and reeled in two of three targets for nine receiving yards during Sunday's 31-27 loss to the Buccaneers.
Impact Smith has overtaken Todd Gurley for the No. 1 running back role over the Falcons' last handful of games, exceeding the three-time Pro Bowler 25-15 in carries since Week 13. Smith was far more effective than Gurley over that three-game span, and he's proven more efficient as a rusher overall this season as well, with his 4.3 yards per carry average towering over Gurley's 3.5 mark. What has diminished Smith's fantasy ceiling is the fact that he's scored just one TD in 65 offensive touches on the year.
DECEMBER 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
FANTASY PLAYS: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 15
After a long regular season, it’s good to be a fantasy owner in Week 15 with a chance to win a championshipDECEMBER 16, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ryan's interceptions create area of concern for Falcons
Matt Ryan threw three interceptions in the second half of Atlanta's 20-17 loss in Los Angeles with the last two coming as he was leading the offense into field-goal range with the...DECEMBER 14, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
