The Green Bay Packers fell in a close 34-31 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football. Following the game, a former Packer who now plays for the Lions had strong words for his old team, accusing them of mistreating him.
Lions pass rusher and ex-Packers standout Za’Darius Smith spoke to NFL Network’s Stacey Dales after the win, calling out Green Bay for how he was treated during his time there.
“Two years I gave it to them, and once I got hurt, they sent me down like I wasn’t nothing. But, I’m glad to be on the other side now. You know I had a chance to go to the Vikings and get my revenge. And I came to Detroit and got my revenge again,” Smith said.
Smith initially signed a four-year, $66 million deal with the Packers before the 2019 season. He earned Pro Bowl honors in his first two seasons, racking up 26 sacks in 32 games. However, his third season with Green Bay was cut short as he played only one game due to injury. His departure was contentious, and the Packers eventually released him.
Smith went on to sign a three-year, $42 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings before being traded to the Cleveland Browns. This season, the Lions brought him in to bolster their pass rush after Aidan Hutchinson’s injury. So far, Smith has delivered, recording three sacks in four games.
For the Packers, this latest loss puts them at four on the season, with three coming against division rivals. Despite the setback, Green Bay proved they could compete with the Lions and were just a few plays away from victory on Thursday.
Fans shouldn’t rule out a postseason rematch between the two teams, where the Packers could get another shot at Smith—a player clearly fueled by a desire for revenge—this time with everything on the line.
