The Denver Broncos on Tuesday signed free-agent defensive lineman Le Kevin Smith, it was announced. 

Smith (6-foot-3, 308 pounds) is a fifth-year player who played in 13 games (2 starts) with the Broncos in 2009 and totaled 10 tackles (9 solo) and a sack (2 yds.) after being acquired as part of a trade with New England prior to the season. He was released by the club on Sept. 7.

He has appeared in 44 games (2 starts) during his career with Denver and New England (2006-08) after he entered the NFL with the Patriots as a sixth-round draft choice (206th overall) in the 2006 NFL Draft from the University of Nebraska.

Smith has totaled 35 tackles (21 solo), one sack (2 yds.) and one fumble recovery during his career in the regular season. He also played in two postseason contests with New England in 2007.

A four-year letterman who recorded at least 40 tackles in every season at Nebraska and started 35-of-49 career games played for the Cornhuskers, Smith attended Stratford academy in Macon, Ga., and he was born on July 21, 1982.