Bears LB Rashad Smith and OL Jamon Brown poached from practice squad

The Bears have lost two members of their practice squad to poaching, as linebacker Rashad Smith and offensive lineman Jamon Brown were added to the Cowboys’ and Eagles’ active rosters, respectively.

The Eagles confirmed the addition of Brown on Twitter on Tuesday, while David Helman from the Cowboys’ team website reported Smith’s signing the same day.

Brown’s tenure with the Bears comes to an end after just nine days, having been signed to the team’s practice squad after he was released by the Falcons on August 24. Chicago protected him from being signed last week as a part of the NFL’s new four-player protection rule, but the Eagles came in and swooped him before this week’s deadline. He has played in 60 games in his six-year NFL career, starting in 47 of them. He most recently started in nine games for Atlanta in 2019. He moves on to his fifth team in less than three years.

Smith was an undrafted rookie out of Florida Atlantic who impressed many in training camp. In his four seasons at the collegiate level, he totaled 316 tackles, 31 tackles for a loss, 11.5 sacks and seven interceptions. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound linebacker fought an uphill battle to make the roster with no preseason games to stand out in, but he was generally received favorably upon his signing with the team.

The Bears now have two openings to fill on their practice squad. Corresponding moves have yet to be announced.