Packers' Za'Darius Smith 'could potentially' miss Week 1 with back injury

The Packers’ top pass-rusher has missed time recently and is now not certain to suit up when they begin their regular-season slate. Za’Darius Smith is down currently with a back injury Matt LaFleur said "could potentially" sideline him for Week 1, according to Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Smith came off Green Bay’s active/NFI list August 9 but suffered a setback shortly after. Back trouble led to Smith beginning Packers camp on the NFI list, and after the Pro Bowl outside linebacker participated briefly with his teammates, he returned to the sidelines. The Packers plan to exercise caution here, leading to the uncertainty surrounding Smith’s Week 1 availability.

This quick move back to the sidelines for Smith invited some speculation about his contract, which became an issue earlier this offseason. GM Brian Gutekunst shot down the notion this absence is contract-related, indicating Smith’s shutdown is “100%” due to his back flaring up and not a contract matter, via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky. Smith, 28, took issue with how the Packers restructured his contract this year, and the seventh-year veteran was not believed to be high on how the Packers are now doling out his payments.

The two-time reigning NFC North champs are among the best-equipped teams to handle an injury to their top pass-rusher, rostering both Preston Smith and former first-round pick Rashan Gary. Those two stand to be Green Bay’s edge starters against the Saints in Week 1, should Za’Darius Smith be held out. While it is unlikely this trio returns together for the 2022 season, the Packers’ decision to retain Preston Smith this year — via a reworked contract — is paying off now.