New England Patriots have successfully acquired offensive lineman from the Green Bay Packers. This marks the second time this season that the Packers have lost a practice squad player to another team’s active roster.
Previously, tight end Messiah Swinson was signed by the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. Although Swinson was later released, he has since returned to the Packers’ practice squad.
Now, Smith has reportedly caught the attention of the Patriots, who are currently dealing with injuries along the offensive line. According to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, Smith will join New England’s 53-man roster for a minimum of three weeks before they can make any roster adjustments. After that period, the Packers will have the opportunity to re-sign Smith to their practice squad, similar to how they managed with Swinson.
Smith, an experienced interior offensive lineman who has played both center and guard, initially joined the Packers following a successful tryout at their 2024 rookie minicamp. He was originally drafted in the sixth round by the Arizona Cardinals in 2022. During his rookie season, he participated in 10 games and made two starts, although he hasn’t seen any regular-season action in the last two years.
With Smith’s departure, the Packers will now have an open spot on their practice squad. Currently, they have only one offensive lineman, rookie Donovan Jennings, among the 17-man unit. Expect Green Bay to look for additional depth in that position moving forward.
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