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Green Bay Packers: former 2x Pro Bowler signs with Philadelphia Eagles immediately following Week 1 game

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Robin M Adams | Last updated Sep 5, 2025 11:18 PM ET

Last season, the Green Bay Packers went 0-2 against the Philadelphia Eagles, who ended up winning the Super Bowl. The losses included a Week One heartbreaker in Sao Paolo, Brazil, a game that saw star quarterback Jordan Love sprain his MCL, starting what was to be an injury-plagued season for him. They also lost to Philadelphia in the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs in a game that saw multiple players knocked out with injuries.

Earlier this offseason, former Packers running back AJ Dillon signed with the defending Super Bowl champs after missing the entire 2024 NFL season with a neck injury. He made the Eagles’ 53-man roster as their third running back, and had three carries for 10 yards in their 24-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night.

Fresh off that win, Dillon is no longer the only former Green Bay player on their roster.

Former Green Bay Packers pass rusher Za’Darius Smith has signed with the Philadelphia Eagles

Green Bay Packers: former 2x Pro Bowler signs with Philadelphia Eagles immediately following Week 1 game 1 Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith (55) celebrates his sack of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins during the second quarter of their game Monday, December 23, 2019 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn.Packers24 39 Hoffman

Earlier on Friday, it was reported that pass rusher Za’Darius Smith, who spent three seasons in Green Bay, had signed with the Eagles. After becoming a free agent following the 2024 NFL season, Smith had gone unsigned all offseason despite having 9.0 sacks while playing for the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns.

Three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Za’Darius Smith is signing with the #Eagles on a one-year deal, sources tell me and @RapSheet.

Smith has 69 career sacks, including nine last season. Now he joins the defending champs on a deal negotiated by @ErikBurkhardt of ROC Nation. pic.twitter.com/yNkWtPmgCk

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 5, 2025

During his first two seasons with the Packers, Smith accumulated 26.0 sacks (and was named to the Pro Bowl in each year) and looked like he was going to be a mainstay on defense for years to come. But a strange disagreement between himself and the team, along with what some believe to have been a phantom back injury, limited him to just one game in his third year in Green Bay.

After becoming a free agent following the 2021 season, Smith signed with the Minnesota Vikings for the sole purpose of exacting revenge on the Packers. He made the Pro Bowl that season, the third of his career, while racking up 10.0 sacks.

Smith spent the 2023 season with the Browns, but had just 5.5 sacks in 16 games played.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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