Brashard Smith ruled inactive for Week 17, special teams plan shifts immediately
I can confirm Brashard Smith will not suit up today. The club filed him as inactive on the official Week 17 report, 90 minutes before kickoff. The speedy slot receiver and return man had been in the plan for the Christmas Day slate. Now the staff must pivot on short notice.
Official: Brashard Smith is inactive for Week 17. He will not dress today.
What I can confirm right now
Smith’s status is final for today’s game. This is not a questionable tag or a warmup decision. He is out. The team’s game day paperwork lists him on the inactive list, and that locks his status for this matchup.
This matters because Smith’s role is specific and valuable. He gives offenses space with motion and quick game touches. He also helps field position with returns. Losing that profile late in the week changes how you call a game. It also changes the bottom of the receiver rotation, which is tied to special teams.
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Why this matters today
Smith is a burst player. He threatens leverage, he bends pursuit angles, and he forces defenses to tackle in space. That is why coaches love him on jet motion, screens, and return duty. In December, when scoring windows get tighter, that speed can tilt a drive.
Without him, the staff typically has two choices. They can hand those gadget touches to the primary slot, risking more hits on a starter. Or they can elevate a depth piece, then live with less experience. On returns, ball security and fielding decisions come first. The backup returner must be clean and calm. Hidden yards decide winter games.
Late season football is about margins. One first down from a screen. One 11 yard punt return. One missed tackle in space. Smith’s absence nudges all those margins back toward even.
How the depth chart adjusts
Expect the receiver rotation to tighten, especially in three wide sets. The offense may lean more on two tight end looks if early down flow gets choppy. On special teams, the next man up inherits two jobs. He must catch the ball and set the offense up on time. That is the baseline. Explosive returns are a bonus.
Here is how it typically shakes out when a return centric wideout sits:
- Backup returner handles punts, kickoffs, and fair catch calls
- Slot snaps tilt to the WR3, with motion duties split
- More backfield touches for the change of pace running back
- Increased screen action for the starting Z, not the reserve slot
The coordinator’s call sheet will reflect that. You may see more quick game to the boundary, a few fewer orbit motions, and a heavier dose of tempo to stress substitutions rather than pure speed.
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Fantasy and betting impact
If you roster Smith in deep leagues, get him out of lineups now. His touches are off the table. The minor but real ripple sits with teammates. The backup returner becomes a low floor, high variance dart if your scoring counts return yards. The starting slot could see a small bump in targets on scripted drives.
Fantasy managers, pivot to a volume play. Think possession receiver or pass catching back. Floor over flair in Week 17.
Game flow notes matter here. Without Smith, field position could dip. That can cap early drives and raise the value of kickers. It can also put the defense on the field longer. If you are streaming a defense, check weather and coverage unit grades, then decide.
What I am watching next
Two things will tell us how well the team patched this. First, the opening script. Do we see the same motion and perimeter screens, or a shift to heavier sets and under center runs. Second, the first punt return. If the backup secures it clean and gets north, nerves settle. If he misplays it, the staff will pull the risk from the plan.
Smith’s path matters past today as well. December hamstrings, bumps, or coach’s choice scratches all carry different timelines. The club plays again in seven days, and Week 18 can decide seeding and jobs. If he is back, he remains a spark. If not, the staff must bake in a new normal.
Conclusion
Brashard Smith is inactive for Week 17, and that is a real hit to speed and special teams juice. I have the confirmation, and the move is final for today. The plan now shifts to ball control, clean returns, and steady hands in the slot. In late season football, that can be enough. But the margin for error just got thinner.
