Green Bay Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur wants 2nd team All Pro outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith to get right. To accomplish that end, the Packers today placed Smith on the Injured Reserve List with a chance to return after sitting a minimum of three weeks.
“Unfortunately, we’re going to have to shut him down for a while”, LaFleur announced at the start of his Friday media session.
Smith, in his 7th NFL season, third with the Packers, has been bothered by a back issue since before training camp began.
He opened camp of the Physically Unable to Perform List. Smith finally got medical clearance to practice and that lasted all of one day before getting sidelined again. He slowly worked his way back to limited appearances in practice during only individual drills. Smith did dress for the season opener against New Orleans and played in 18 snaps. The most significant was his pressure and hit on Saints quarterback Jameis Winston who got off the pass that was intercepted by Darnell Savage in the end zone. Smith was flagged for a very questionable roughing the passer on the play.
LaFleur weighed the option of having Smith play limited snaps week to week at less than 100% or trying to rid him of the undisclosed nature of the injury altogether.
The defense will sorely miss Smith who earned Pro Bowl recognition in each of his two seasons with Green Bay. In 2019, he piled up 13 1/2 sacks, 51 quarterback hits and 65 pressures. Last season, he had 12 1/2 sacks with four forced fumbles.
Preston Smith will no be joined by former number one pick Rashan Gary at outside linebacker with Jonathan Garvin and Chauncey Rivers as backups.
With an opening on the roster, the Packers have reportedly signed first year outside linebacker Ladarius Hamilton off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad. Hamilton is 6-3, 260 for North Texas State where he played defensive end and linebacker.
