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.

The Packers will get a three-week window to activate Smith once he returns to practice and is designated for return, and he may need much of the window to return to playing shape after missing most of camp. If he’s not back this week, there’s a chance Smith won’t have a realistic shot at playing until the postseason, at the earliest. The Packers have two more regular-season games after this week.

Over his first two seasons, Smith produced 26.0 sacks, 70 quarterback hits, 29 tackles for losses and four forced fumbles.

Preston Smith and Rashan Gary have carried the load at edge rusher this season. Smith is enjoying a bounceback season, while Gary is ascending to star status in his third year.

The best-case scenario now would be Smith returning to practice at some point next.

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