Yahoo! Sports · Dec 21, 2021
Packers won’t have OLB Za’Darius Smith back at practice this week
The first step in Za’Darius Smith returning to help the Green Bay Packers won’t be happening this week.
Coach Matt LaFleur said Smith, who is still on injured reserve while recovering from back surgery, isn’t ready to return to practice.
“I would not anticipate him being on the practice field,” LaFleur said Tuesday.
Smith, a second-team All-Pro in 2020, dealt with the injury throughout training camp and then played in just one game – Week 1 vs. the New Orleans Saints – before shutting down and having the corrective back surgery.
LaFleur and the Packers have maintained some level of optimism about Smith returning this season, but time is running out.
