LSU great and current Jacksonville Jaguar Maason Smith is back from injury. Ahead of Jacksonville's Week 2 preseason matchup against the Saints, the Jaguars announced thatdefensive tackle Maason Smith has been activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list.
Smith was placed on the PUP list early in training camp with an undisclosed injury. His return provides a big boost to the Jaguars, who are hungry for playmakers in the trenches.
Smith appeared in 11 games for the Jaguars in his rookie season in 2024. He totaled 17 tackles (10 solo) and three sacks. Heading into his sophomore season in the NFL, the Houma, LA native is ready to put together a strong campaign.
Smith preparing for big sophomore season in the NFL
Jacksonville doesn't have much depth in the trenches, so Smith's return comes as a huge sigh of relief. With Smith out, the Jaguars shuffled through several defensive linemen in training camp trying to find the right fit. Getting Smith back on the field is massive. However, it remains to be seen if he will play in Sunday's preseason game against the Saints.
Smith was drafted by the Jaguars in the 2024 NFL Draft in the second round with the No. 48 overall pick. He was the Tigers' highest-picked defensive player in that draft, and was one of three LSU defensive linemen selected in 2024. Jordan Jefferson also went to the Jaguars in the fourth round, and Mekhi Wingo went to the Lions in the sixth round.
Smith's career in Baton Rouge included 22 appearances and 17 starts over three seasons. He was named to the All-SEC Freshman Team and the Freshman All-America Team in 2021. He tore his ACL in the first game of the 2022 season against Florida State, and returned for 12 games in 2023. In his career, Smith totaled 47 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks for the Tiger defense.