Fish Smithson: Washington Redskins sign safety from practice squad

Dec. 19 (UPI) -- The Washington Redskins have promoted safety Fish Smithson from the practice squad.

Washington also signed defensive lineman Tavaris Barnes to the practice squad and placed safety Montae Nicholson on their reserve/injured list. The moves were announced on Tuesday.

Smithson, 23, signed onto the Redskins' practice squad this year as an undrafted free agent out of Kansas. He spent his entire rookie campaign on the practice squad before being called up.

Nicholson had 24 tackles, two passes defensed and an interception in eight games this season. He was diagnosed with a concussion after appearing in the Redskins' Nov. 19 game against the New Orleans Saints. He has been inactive for the team's previous four games.

"He's obviously showed a lot of promise and we love him as a player and an athlete," Redskins coach Jay Gruden said of Nicholson, according to the team website.

Smithson's most prominent role will likely come on special teams. The 5 foot 11, 196 pound defender had eight tackles, a pass defensed and an interception in four preseason games this year for Washington. He returned that interception for 63 yards on Aug. 27 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Deshazor Everett is listed as the Redskins' backup strong safety on the unofficial depth chart.