AARON SMITH OUT FOR THE SEASON

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PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith has been placed on injured reserve and is out for the season, the team said Wednesday.

Smith

Smith has a partial tear of the right rotator cuff, a source told ESPN.com's John Clayton on Tuesday. He was said to be deciding whether to have shoulder surgery and was expected to meet with doctors on Wednesday to weigh his options.

Smith has been with the Steelers (3-2) longer than any current player except wide receiver Hines Ward and defensive back Deshea Townsend. He is one of the keys to their 3-4 alignment and is often cited by teammates as being the most underrated player on what was the NFL's top defense the last two seasons.

Smith has 13 tackles and two sacks in five games and blocked a field goal attempt during the Steelers' 13-10 victory over Tennessee on Sept. 10. He also is one of the Steelers' primary run stoppers.

The 33-year-old Smith sat out the last four games of the 2007 season because of a torn biceps muscle.

Information from ESPN.com's John Clayton and The Associated Press was used in this report.