Report: Za’Darius Smith Expected to Practice for Packers this Week
By Paul Bretl
David Bakhtiari and Josh Myers played on Sunday while Jaire Alexander and Randall Cobb have both been back at practice. Now heading into the playoffs it appears that the Green Bay Packers would get another big boost with the potential return of Za’Darius Smith.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Smith is expected to return to the practice field this week, opening the three week window for the Packers to add him back on to the 53-man roster and off IR, where he has been since Week 2.
From @GMFB: #Packers star pass-rusher Za’Darius Smith, out since late September because of back surgery, was officially cleared this past week & is slated to be designated for return this week, sources say. If all goes well, he’ll be on the field when Green Bay’s playoffs begin. pic.twitter.com/t2iRWiAcvw
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 10, 2022
If that three week window passes without Smith being added to the roster, he will then be placed on season-ending IR instead.
In his first two seasons with the Packers, Smith would total 164 pressures and 32 sacks, according to PFF ($$), while also being named an All-Pro.
Smith has been dealing with a back injury all year and would participate in only one practice during training camp. He would then play just 18 snaps in the season opener against New Orleans before ultimately having surgery and being placed on IR.
Fortunately, in his absence, the Green Bay Packers have had a breakout season from Rashan Gary and a bounce back season from Preston Smith.
Among edge rushers, Gary ranks second in total pressures while Smith is tied for ninth, and as a team, the Packers rank top-5 in total pressures generated per PFF.
With Smith potentially back in the mix, Green Bay will also have to rely less on Jonathan Garvin and Tipa Galeai, both of whom have underwhelmed at times. Now the question becomes how will the Packers split playing time between the Smiths and Gary moving forward—although I’m sure we will see all three of them on the field together with some regularity.
With the first-round bye, Smith will have two weeks worth of practices to work his way back before Green Bay’s first playoff game. The Packers have done a tremendous job of navigating these injuries all season long, and with the playoffs near, it would appear that more reinforcements are on the way.