Packers Lose Micah Parsons to Likely Torn ACL - and Za’Darius Smith Is Watching
The Green Bay Packers were dealt a serious blow Sunday evening when star pass rusher Micah Parsons limped off the field with a non-contact injury during the fourth quarter of a 34-26 loss to the Denver Broncos. The early belief, per reports, is that Parsons suffered a torn ACL - a devastating development for a defense that had leaned heavily on his disruptive presence all season.
Parsons has been the engine of Green Bay’s pass rush, the kind of player who forces offensive coordinators to change game plans. Losing him this late in the year doesn’t just sting - it changes the entire outlook for a team with playoff aspirations. And now, with the postseason in sight, the Packers are faced with a tough reality: someone else has to step up, or they’ll need to look outside the building for reinforcements.
Za’Darius Smith Sends an Eyebrow-Raising Tweet
Enter Za’Darius Smith - or at least, his Twitter account.
Shortly after Parsons went down, Smith posted a simple “eyes” emoji on X (formerly Twitter). No caption, no context, just the kind of vague-but-loaded gesture that tends to set the football world buzzing.
Was he just reacting like any fan watching the game? Maybe.
But knowing Smith’s history with Green Bay - and his knack for stirring the pot - it’s hard not to read between the lines.
Smith, a former Pro Bowl edge rusher for the Packers, officially retired earlier this season after a brief stint with the Eagles. But if that tweet was any indication, he might be eyeing a comeback - and possibly a reunion with the team he once starred for.
Could Smith Actually Return to Green Bay? It’s Complicated.
Now, before anyone starts photoshopping Smith back into a Packers uniform, there are a few hurdles - and they’re not small ones.
First, there’s the matter of his contract. After being released by the Lions last spring, Smith signed with the Eagles early this season and logged two sacks and 10 pressures in five games before deciding to call it a career.
But by retiring instead of requesting a release, Smith left his contractual rights in the hands of Philadelphia. That means if he wanted to suit up again - especially for a team like Green Bay - the Eagles would have to let him walk.
And considering the Packers are among the Eagles’ biggest threats in the NFC, that’s not a move Philly’s front office is likely to green-light.
Then there’s the history.
Smith’s final season with the Packers didn’t end on great terms. After playing just one game in 2021, he underwent back surgery - a decision that reportedly frustrated the team.
That offseason, a contract dispute led to his release. He landed with the Vikings in 2022, but that too ended with more contract drama and a trade to Cleveland.
By 2024, he was back in the NFC North after lobbying for the Lions to acquire him - citing the chance to play Green Bay and Minnesota twice a year. He got his wish, played eight games in Detroit, and was released again.
The common thread through it all? Contract issues.
So even if the Eagles were willing to release him, and even if Smith was physically ready to return, there’s a real question of whether the Packers would even want to reopen that door.
Old Grudges Die Hard
Beyond the logistics, there’s the emotional baggage. In a 2024 interview, Smith made it clear he still holds resentment toward the Packers for how things ended. He claimed the team “lied” to him about his back injury and felt like he was unfairly painted as the villain in the locker room.
“It wasn’t right. I gave that team my all,” Smith said.
“They lied to me about my back. For a lot of fans who think I did wrong or was the mean guy in the locker room, that’s not my M.O.
I’m not that type of player.”
That kind of bitterness doesn’t exactly set the stage for a feel-good reunion.
And let’s not forget - before the 2021 season, Smith wasn’t even voted a team captain, a possible sign of how he was viewed internally. That detail, while small, speaks volumes in NFL locker rooms.
More Troll Than Tryout?
So what was Smith’s tweet really about?
It might’ve been nothing more than a shot at his old team. After all, this is the same player who made his own custom NFC North championship ring last season to try and convince the Lions to keep him around.
Trolling isn’t out of character. And if that emoji was meant to stir the pot, well - mission accomplished.
But if Smith was actually trying to signal that he’s open for business, the Packers have every reason to keep scrolling. Between the contract complications, the past drama, and the timing, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Green Bay picks up the phone.
For now, the Packers have to focus on what’s next without Parsons - whether that means leaning on the next man up or scouring the waiver wire for help. One thing’s clear: if this team still believes it can make a run, they’ll need someone to fill the massive void Parsons leaves behind.
As for Smith? He might be watching, but don’t expect a Lambeau return anytime soon.