Jaguars Make More Linebacker Additions With Malcolm Smith, Donald Payne

The Jaguars have added three linebackers to their active roster in the last two days.

The Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4) continue to shake up their roster this week following a number of sustained linebacker injuries in Week 7's 27-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. 

After linebackers Najee Goode and D.J. Alexander each left Sunday's game with injuries, the team announced today they have signed linebackers Malcolm Smith and Donald Payne. The team also promoted undrafted rookie linebacker Joe Giles-Harris to the active roster from the practice squad on Monday.

To make room for Smith and Payne, the team announced tight end Geoff Swaim (ankle, concussion protocol) and D.J. Alexander (foot) were placed on the team's reserve/injured list. Linebacker Sutton Smith was also signed to the team's practice squad. 

The two linebacker signings on Tuesday were first reported by Demetrius Harvey of Locked on Jaguars and Mike DiRocco of ESPN, respectively. 

#Jaguars are signing LB Donald Payne to the 53-man roster today, per source.

— Demetrius Harvey (@Demetrius82) October 22, 2019

The Jaguars are signing former Super Bowl XLVIII MVP LB Malcolm Smith, per league source. The team was beset by injuries at linebacker in last Sunday's victory over Cincinnati. Smith played for San Francisco the last two seasons. https://t.co/AOZ21jopoX

— Michael DiRocco (@ESPNdirocco) October 22, 2019

Smith, who was named Superbowl XLVIII MVP, has played in defensive schemes similar to Jacksonville's for most of his career after stops with the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. He was released by the 49ers on Aug. 27 after spending two seasons with the team.

"Smith, 6-0, 225, has appeared in 100 career games with 51 career starts during stints with San Francisco (2017-18), Oakland (2015-16) and Seattle (2011-14). His career totals include 366 career tackles (276 solo), 17 passes defended, eight forced fumbles and 6.0 sacks," the Jaguars said in a release.

Meanwhile, Payne is a player who is familiar with the Jaguars after appearing in 21 career games for the team from 2017-2018 as a special teams ace. He recorded 15 total tackles as a Jaguar. 

Losing Swaim to injured reserve means the Jaguars now have each of their top two tight ends from Week 1 on the injured/reserve list. James O'Shaughnessy, the team's No. 1 tight end for much of the early season, was placed on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending ACL injury in Week 5.