Tag: Za’Darius Smith

“We’re hopeful,” head coach Matt LaFleur said of Za’Darius Smith’s availability for practice this week.

The Green Bay Packers’ premier edge rusher has been sidelined for the last three weeks while dealing with a lingering back injury. Smith has not missed a single game in his two seasons with the Packers but needs to take the necessary steps on the practice field to play against the New Orleans Saints in the opener.

“We’ll see if he can get out there and do some individual today. Yeah, we’re hopeful,” said LaFleur.

According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, Smith was indeed at Monday’s practice participating in group work. We should have a better idea of Smith’s availability against the Saints on Wednesday. That is when the team must release their first injury report for the regular season.

While Smith has been banged up a few times during his tenure with Green Bay, as noted previously, he has yet to miss a game. Over the last two seasons, Smith has played the fourth-most snaps on the Packers’ defense.

Not having Smith against New Orleans would be a huge blow to Green Bay’s pass rush. After all, he is the team’s most productive edge rusher, having led the defense in sacks and pressures in back-to-back seasons.

Smith also made one of the most crucial plays in last year’s meeting against the Saints. With the game tied at 27 at the start of the fourth quarter, New Orleans was threatening to score at the Packers’ 41-yard line. On this particular play, Taysom Hill was in at quarterback to replace Drew Brees.

On 2nd and 3, Hill faked the hand-off to running back Latavius Murray before keeping the ball on an option call. However, Smith was waiting for Hill almost instantaneously after getting into the backfield unblocked. Hill attempted to evade Smith but to no avail. Smith wrapped up Hill and was able to punch the ball loose. He then recovered the fumble, which set up a go-ahead 49-yard field goal by Mason Crosby.

Za’Darius Smith returned to practice today in a limited capacity. This might be a good for sign for his availability in the season opener against the Saints. Last year, he made this game-changing play in week 3. pic.twitter.com/px8k4AVaJb

— Brandon Carwile (@PackerScribe) September 6, 2021

Green Bay went on to defeat the Saints 37-30 in large part thanks to Smith’s momentum-shifting turnover.

Not having him for the 2021 season opener would be less than ideal but not insurmountable. The Packers do have Rashan Gary waiting in the wings in case Smith is unable to play. Gary is coming off a tremendous offseason and could become a real difference-maker during his third NFL season. Allowing Smith more time to heal would be a great opportunity for Gary, who is also due for more playing time.

However, not to discount Smith, the fact that he is practicing at the start of the week is a good sign. Even in a limited capacity, his presence on the field alone is something the Saints would have to account for.

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The Green Bay Packers don’t know if Za’Darius Smith will play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, but it’s possible the All-Pro edge rusher will return to practice in some capacity this week.

Coach Matt LaFleur said he’s “hopeful” that Smith will practice, potentially starting Monday.

“We’ll see if he can get out there and do some individual today. Yeah, we’re hopeful,” LaFleur said Monday.

According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Smith was in uniform and doing individual drills at practice on Monday.

Smith, a Pro Bowler in 2019 and 2020, started training camp on the NFI list with a back injury and returned for only a few practices before suffering a setback. Two weeks ago, LaFleur confirmed the Packers were concerned about Smith’s status for Week 1.

The Packers play the Saints in Jacksonville in the opener on Sunday afternoon.

With a 17-game schedule ahead, the Packers have consistently said they will be safe with big-time players such as Smith and left tackle David Bakhtiari. Smith would likely have to practice without issue during team periods this week to have a chance to play against the Saints.

Last season, Smith forced a crucial fumble in the second half of the Packers’ win in New Orleans. He finished the season with 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles and was named a second-team All-Pro.

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The Green Bay Packers aren’t really sure when All-Pro edge rusher Za’Darius Smith will return from injury, and his availability is now in doubt for Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints.

Asked Sunday about Smith’s status, coach Matt LaFleur wasn’t able to provide a timeline and confirmed the injury is a “concern.”

“That’s a great question. I’m not quite sure when we’ll get Z back,” LaFleur said. “He’s injured right now. I know he wants to be out there, but we’re going to be smart with him. He’s a big-time player for us. Yeah, it definitely is a concern.”

Smith came off the non-football injury list last Monday and practiced, but he hasn’t participated since, sitting out the team’s joint practices with the New York Jets during Wednesday and Thursday of last week. The original injury was listed as a back injury.

The Packers go to New Orleans to play the Saints on Sept. 12. LaFleur isn’t sure if Smith, who has a team-high 26.0 sacks for the Packers over the last two seasons, will be ready to go by then.

“It could, potentially,” LaFleur said when asked if the injury could affect his Week 1 availability.

Smith, who signed in Green Bay before the 2019 season, hasn’t missed a regular-season game over the last two years.

If Smith’s injury holds him out of Week 1, the Packers would roll with veteran Preston Smith and 2019 first-round pick Rashan Gary at outside linebacker. The team might also be tempted to keep a fifth outside linebacker on the initial 53-man roster if Smith isn’t ready for the start of the regular season.

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