The Eagles bolstered their special teams on Tuesday with the signing of do-it-all return man Brad Smith. The 29-year-old Smith has experience as a quarterback, running back and wide receiver on offense, but his biggest contributions during an eight-year career have come on special teams, where he has four career kickoff return touchdowns.
Smith, 6-2, 213 has not played a game this season after he was placed on injured reserve by the Buffalo Bills in the preseason with a rib injury. The Bills released him from injured reserve last Friday with an injury settlement, allowing Smith to sign with any of the other 31 teams in the NFL. He now joins an Eagles team that ranks 23rd in the league with a 21.9-yard kickoff return average.
"You realize how much you missed the game, how much you appreciate being around the guys," Smith said. "It stunk, just not being able to play the game. I'm just really, truly grateful for the opportunity."
| Brad Smith's Career Totals | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | Rec. | Rec. Yds | Rec. TDs | Rush | Rush Yds | Rush TDs | KOR | KOR Avg. | KOR TDs |
| 2012 | BUF | 14 | 152 | 2 | 14 | 116 | 1 | 18 | 27.6 | 1 |
| 2011 | BUF | 23 | 240 | 1 | 20 | 87 | 1 | 15 | 18.8 | 0 |
| 2010 | NYJ | 4 | 44 | 0 | 38 | 299 | 1 | 50 | 28.6 | 2 |
| 2009 | NYJ | 7 | 63 | 0 | 18 | 207 | 1 | 10 | 31.0 | 1 |
| 2008 | NJY | 12 | 64 | 0 | 12 | 113 | 0 | 4 | 9.8 | 0 |
| 2007 | NYJ | 32 | 325 | 2 | 12 | 45 | 0 | 9 | 20.3 | 0 |
| 2006 | NYJ | 9 | 61 | 0 | 18 | 103 | 0 | 1 | 4.0 | 0 |
| Totals | 101 | 949 | 5 | 132 | 970 | 4 | 107 | 25.7 | 4 | |
A college quarterback at Missouri, the multi-faceted Smith has 15 totals touchdowns in his career and is the only player in NFL history with a passing, rushing, receiving, kickoff return and blocked punt return touchdown over the course of his career. He is also a valuable specials teams member in coverage, as he tied for the league lead last season with nine special teams tackles. Smith will wear No. 16.
"That's one of the main reasons, to get a chance to learn how to do different things," Smith said of his reasoning for choosing to sign with the Eagles, "to be able to contribute, learn the blocking on the kickoff return, if I'm not returning I'll block. Punt coverage, I'm going to do my best to go down and make a play, get the ball back to the offense.
"I'm just so excited to be back on the field and to contribute."
To make room for Smith on the roster, the Eagles released wide receiver B.J. Cunningham, who was signed to the active roster on October 14 and appeared in two games for the Eagles but did not record a catch.
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