On Monday, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur spoke on the status of pass-rusher Za’Darius Smith, following the late-Friday news that Smith had back surgery earlier in the previous week. When LaFleur was asked if Smith, who has been on injured reserve since Week 2 of the season, will be back in 2021, LaFleur stated, “Well, I hope so, but I don’t really know with a lot of it. It just depends on how you heel. Certainly, we’re hopeful, but that’s a ways away.”
The other big question for the Packers is the health of another Pro Bowl defender: cornerback Jaire Alexander.