Bengals roster news: Derron Smith replaces Scott Orndoff on practice squad

The Cincinnati Bengals have reacquired Derron Smith.

On Tuesday, the team announced that Smith had been signed to the practice squad. In order to make room, the Bengals released tight end Scott Orndoff from the practice squad.

Smith, a sixth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Fresno State, had played in three games this year with one special teams tackle, but he was waived this weekend in order to make room for free agent kicker Marshall Koehn, who replaced the injury Randy Bullock in a Week 9 loss in Jacksonville.

Smith has played in 31 regular-season Bengals games the past three seasons and he has totaled seven tackles, one pass defensed on defense and six special teams tackles. He appeared to have a bright future ahead of him after promising rookie and sophomore seasons, but injuries have kept him off the field far too much for the Bengals to rely on him.

Another thing that’s helped keep Smith off the field this season has been Josh Shaw playing more at safety this season than in previous years. It looks like Shaw is now a full-time safety now along with George Iloka, Clayton Fejedelem and Shawn Williams.

As for Orndoff, a rookie from the University of Pittsburgh, originally signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a college free agent on May 1. The Steelers waived him on August 4, prior to their first preseason game.

Orndoff then signed with the Detroit Lions on August 21 and played in the Lions’ final two preseason games, recording one reception for four yards. The Lions waived him during final cuts on September 2.