GREEN BAY, Wis. – Za’Darius Smith’s protracted absence from the practice field is due to his back and not his contract.
The injury, coach Matt LaFleur said on Sunday, is significant enough that Smith “potentially” might not be available to face the New Orleans Saints in the season-opening game in exactly three weeks.
The two-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker, who spent the first 12 practices of training camp on the non-football injury list with a back issue, made his practice debut on Monday. His return was fleeting. Smith missed the joint practices against the New York Jets on Wednesday and Thursday and didn’t play in Saturday’s preseason game against the Jets, either.