Za'Darius Smith - Page 6 - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Returns to practice The Packers have designated Smith (back) for return from IR, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Coach Matt LaFleur said Smith will practice Wednesday, which is an encouraging step in his recovery from back surgery. Smith has been on injured reserve since Green Bay's season opener, and with the team beginning the postseason with a bye week, he will have a bit more time ramp up his on-field activity.

JANUARY 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Set to practice this week Coach Matt LaFleur said Monday he expects Smith (back) to return to practice Wednesday, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Impact Smith has been on injured reserve since playing limited snaps in the season opener, and he subsequently underwent back surgery in early October. The 29-year-old hasn't practiced in months, so he'll likely need to work his way back into game shape before having a chance of being activated. The Packers have a bye for the opening round of the playoffs, and it remains to be seen if Smith will be ready to play in the first postseason game.

JANUARY 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Not expected to practice Smith (back) is not expected to participate in practice for the Packers leading up to their Week 16 contest with the Browns, Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports.

Impact Smith hasn't been able to return to the field since Week 1, where the linebacker suffered a serious back injury that required surgery. Coach Matt LaFleur was hopeful Smith would be able to return in Week 14 but the 29-year-old is still rehabbing from surgery and needs time. While Smith will likely miss Week 16, the Packers will have two more regular-season games for Smith to get reps in before the playoffs start. His next chance to return to the field will likely be in Week 17 against the Vikings.

DECEMBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ravens LB Za'Darius Smith hangs out with fans before Baltimore faces the Steelers

DECEMBER 16, 2021 • FOX SPORTS

Ravens LB Za'Darius Smith is amped after a Ravens win

DECEMBER 16, 2021 • FOX SPORTS

Za'Darius Smith tells Michael Vick the 7 toughest offensive players he's faced | QB7 | NFL on FOX

DECEMBER 16, 2021 • FOX SPORTS

Hoping to return in Week 14 Coach Matt LaFleur said Monday that the Packers are hopeful Smith (back) can return in Week 14, Mike Spofford of the Packers' official site reports.

Impact Smith has been sidelined since the first week of the season and underwent back surgery at the end of November, but the Packers have remained optimistic that he will be able to return this season. When asked if Smith will be available in Week 14, LaFleur said, "certainly we hope so," and "we'll see where we're at on Wednesday." So, while there continues to be optimism surrounding a potential return against the Bears on Sunday Night Football, there likely won't be any official update to Smith's status until Wednesday at the earliest.

DECEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

NFL odds: How to bet Rams vs. Packers, point spread, more

Check out the NFL odds on Rams vs. Packers, from the point spread to the over/under and expert picks.

NOVEMBER 24, 2021 • FOX SPORTS

NFL odds: How to bet Rams vs. Packers, point spread, more

Gets surgery, out indefinitely Smith (back) will be out for an extended period after having surgery earlier this week, but the Packers are hoping he'll return at some point this season, Mike Garafolo of NFL Netw...

Impact Based on initial reports, there's at least some chance the surgery turns out to be season-ending. The campaign does last a week longer this year, and Green Bay is among the more likely teams to still be playing late in January. Still, the team will be without its top pass rusher for most of the season, with Smith landing on IR after he tried to play through the injury Week 1 and now requiring a procedure after rest wasn't enough to fix the problem.

OCTOBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Lands on IR The Packers placed Smith (back) on injured reserve Friday, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.

Impact Smith has been dealing with a back injury since the beginning of training camp, but he was able to suit up for Week 1. The 29-year-old played just 29 percent of the snaps against the Saints and drew a roughing the passer penalty that nullified an interception. He will now be given a chance to focus on rehab as he will be forced to miss at least three weeks while he is on IR. The Packers signed Ladarius Hamilton off Tampa Bay's practice squad, but Rashan Gary and Preston Smith will likely see the majority of pass-rushing snaps while Smith is inactive.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Slated to miss time The Packers are expected to keep Smith (back) sidelined for an undetermined amount of time, Wes Hodkiewicz of the team's official site reports. "Z's not going to be out there," coa...

Impact Smith has been dealing with a back injury since the early days of training camp, which didn't allow him to get on the field during the preseason, along with most of the Packers' healthy top players. He was able to give it a go Week 1 against the Saints, however, playing 29 percent of the defensive snaps (18 of 62) en route to one solo tackle. Smith emerged from the contest as a DNP on Thursday's practice report, and it now appears he'll spend some time on IR until he gets his back back to full health.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

No practice Thursday Smith (back) was a non-participant at Thursday's practice.

Impact After missing the entire preseason due to a back injury, Smith gave it a go Week 1 against the Saints but managed to play just 18 of 62 defensive snaps (29 percent). That's a far cry from last season, when he regularly logged 80 percent of those plays most games. Speaking of Smith, coach Matt LaFleur told Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com on Thursday, "we're not going to play him as much as we'd like to until we know he's healthy enough to do that." Until Smith is able to make it through practice without issue, the Packers will limit his playing time on a weekly basis.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Suiting up Week 1 Smith (back) is active for Sunday's game against the Saints in Jacksonville, Mike Spofford of the Packers' official site reports.

Impact Smith entered training camp on the non-football injury list due to a back issue that kept him on the sideline in the preseason. Coach Matt LaFleur revealed Aug. 22 that there was a chance Smith wouldn't be available Week 1, and those odds remained even after he followed an LP/LP/DNP practice regimen this week. That said, Smith was able to prove he can play through his injury and will be a part of the Packers' pass rush Sunday along with Preston Smith and Rashan Gary.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Expected to play Sunday Smith (back) is expected to play Sunday against New Orleans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Impact Final confirmation of Smith's Week 1 status will arrive once the Packers' inactives are submitted prior to the team's 4:25 ET kickoff, but it appears as though Green Bay's standout pass rusher will give it a go Sunday, barring any setbacks.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Looking 50/50 for Sunday Smith (back) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against New Orleans, with coach Matt LaFleur saying Friday that the Packers will "give [Smith] the next 48 hours to prove h...

Impact The absence Friday followed limited practices Wednesday and Thursday, with Smith appearing truly questionable all along. He now needs to be treated as a game-time decision for his matchup with arguably the best offensive tackle duo in the NFL (Saints LT Terron Armstead and RT Ryan Ramczyk). Rashan Gary should get more snaps off the edge if Smith ultimately is ruled out before the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Increases practice reps Outside linebackers coach Mike Smith said Smith (back) increased his number of reps at Thursday's practice, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Impact Smith has logged back-to-back limited showings in practice this week, but his snap count bumped up from 7-to-10 on Wednesday to approximately 18 one day later. Earlier this week, coach Matt LaFleur noted the Packers wanted to see how Smith held up on the field before making a final call on his status for Week 1 against the Saints. Due to Thursday's development, Smith may have a better shot to suit up Sunday than he did when the week began.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Officially limited Wednesday Smith (back) was limited in Wednesday's practice.

Impact Smith spent a good portion of training camp on the non-football injury list due to a back issue, and even after the Packers activated the pass rusher on Aug. 16 coach Matt LaFleur noted that he was uncertain whether he'd be ready for Week 1. Not much has changed since then, with LaFleur telling Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette that Smith would work "in a limited capacity" Wednesday, but the coach wants him to put together back-to-back sessions without issue before making a call for Sunday's game against the Saints in Jacksonville. As a result, Smith's activity level Thursday may be telling for his availability this weekend.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Status for Week 1 in question Coach Matt LaFleur said Smith (back) may be unavailable Week 1 at New Orleans, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Impact Smith spent most of training camp on the non-football injury list due to a back issue, but the Packers activated him this past Monday. He has yet to make an appearance in the preseason, though, and LaFleur is unsure of the pass rusher's early season availability. "It definitely is a concern," LaFleur said of the current injury, which now may not be to his back. Smith has been eminently productive through two seasons in Green Bay, totaling 107 tackles, 26 sacks, five force fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two pass defenses in 32 games.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Activated from NFI list The Packers activated Smith (back) from the non-football injury list Monday, Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports.

Impact Smith is participating in Monday's practice, which is a very good sign for his recovery progress. It doesn't appear that the Packers are very concerned about Smith's availability for Week 1, if at all, but it remains to be seen if the 28-year-old will suit up for Saturday's preseason matchup against the Jets.

AUGUST 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Nursing back issue Smith is on the non-football injury list with a back injury, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Impact Smith opened camp on the NFI list, but the specific injury he's dealing with was previously unspecified. GM Brian Gutekunst indicated it's not a serious injury, so the 28-year-old could make his camp debut relatively soon.

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Injury should be short-term Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said Wednesday that the undisclosed injury that resulted in Smith's placement on the non-football injury list isn't a serious concern, Tom P...

Impact Gutekunst similarly downplayed the injury of cornerback Kevin King, who was also placed on the NFI list earlier this week. Expect Smith and King to return to practice before long.

JULY 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Starts camp on NFI list Smith (undisclosed) was placed on the Non-Football Injury list Tuesday, Tom Silverstein of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Impact Smith is dealing with an undisclosed injury to begin training camp after coming off one of the best seasons of his career for Green Bay in which he recorded 52 tackles and 12.5 sacks.

JULY 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Could J.J. Watt land at Lambeau Field with the Green Bay Packers?

With his home team possibly in the running to land the star defensive end, could it be a happy homecoming for J.J. Watt?

FEBRUARY 16, 2021 • FOX SPORTS

Could J.J. Watt land at Lambeau Field with the Green Bay Packers?

Ready to rock Smith (ankle/thumb) does not carry an injury designation for Saturday's divisional-round game against the Rams, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.

Impact Smith began the week as a limited participant in practice while nursing a pair of injuries, but he's on track for Saturday's NFC divisional-round contest against the Rams. The star linebacker notched 12.5 sacks across 16 appearances during the regular season.

JANUARY 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Listed as limited participant Smith (ankle/thumb) was a limited participant on Tuesday's practice report.

Impact Smith played through the pair of injuries in the season finale against Chicago, recording 66 defensive snaps and two tackles in the process. The 28-year-old linebacker will be ready for Saturday's playoff game against the Rams barring a setback during the practice week.

JANUARY 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

ZA'DARIUS SMITH NEWS

NEWS

BIO

STATS

VIDEOS

GAME LOG

INJURIES

Ravens LB Za'Darius Smith hangs out with fans before Baltimore faces the Steelers

Ravens LB Za'Darius Smith is amped after a Ravens win

Za'Darius Smith tells Michael Vick the 7 toughest offensive players he's faced | QB7 | NFL on FOX

NFL odds: How to bet Rams vs. Packers, point spread, more

Could J.J. Watt land at Lambeau Field with the Green Bay Packers?