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Atlanta Falcons fullback Keith Smith was arrested on Wednesday on traffic charges in the Buckhead area, as confirmed by the Atlanta Police.
The specifics of the incident leading to the traffic stop have not been disclosed by authorities.
The news of Smith’s arrest quickly reached the Atlanta Falcons organization, prompting inquiries from media outlets. FOX 5 Atlanta reached out to the team for comment: “We are aware of a legal matter involving Keith Smith this afternoon and have been informed of its details. We will have no further comment at this time.”
The 31-year-old fullback has been with the team since 2019. Smith had previously also played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Las Vegas Raiders before heading to Atlanta.
During the 2022 NFL season, Smith played in all 17 games for the Falcons. He contributed by participating in 25 percent of the team’s offensive snaps and an impressive 60 percent of special teams snaps. Although Smith doesn’t typically handle the ball as a runner or receiver, he has found himself on the field due to his crucial blocking abilities.
His involvement in the backfield has been significant in creating running lanes for the team’s offensive players.
In March, the Falcons re-signed Keith Smith to a one year deal. Despite the possibility of sharing snaps with newcomer Jonnu Smith, who occasionally lines up in the backfield, Keith’s role on the special teams unit is expected to guarantee him a place on the roster.
Throughout his career, Smith has played in a total of 129 games, though he has only accumulated 258 yards, his value as a versatile blocker has been recognized by his teams.
With the Falcons selecting running back Bijan Robinson as the 8th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Keith Smith’s role in blocking running lanes for the rookie is anticipated to be of great importance.
It remains to be seen how this incident will impact Smith’s standing within the team and his future participation on the field.