Za’Darius Smith has been very vocal about his desire for a revenge game against the Green Bay Packers, and his feelings became clear after Thursday night’s matchup with them. Prior to his trade to the Detroit Lions, Smith had mentioned how much he would enjoy facing Green Bay and the Minnesota Vikings twice a year if he joined Detroit. This idea of revenge clearly lingered as Smith made an immediate impact in his first meeting with the Packers as a Lion, recording a sack on the very first play of the game.
Smith’s history with the Packers goes back to his three seasons in Green Bay (2019-2021), where he was a two-time Pro Bowler and racked up 26 sacks in his first two seasons. However, after a back injury limited him to just one game in 2021, the Packers released him in March 2022. Smith then joined the Minnesota Vikings, where he posted another double-digit sack season in 2022 and received some Comeback Player of the Year votes.
Following Detroit’s victory over Green Bay, NFL Network’s Stacey Dales spoke with Smith about his motivation for the game, noting his earlier comments about a potential revenge game. Smith didn’t shy away from expressing his emotions, confirming that he felt slighted by Green Bay after his injury and release. “I gave them everything for two years, and when I got hurt, they treated me like I was nothing,” Smith said. “But now I’m on the other side, and I got my revenge with the Vikings, and now with Detroit.”
While injuries are part of the business in the NFL, Smith’s resentment towards how the Packers handled his release seems personal, perhaps influenced by the way he was treated after his injury. Regardless, the Lions are benefiting from his extra motivation, as Smith gets to take on his former division rivals with a chip on his shoulder.
