Source: Packers Trade Preston Smith to Steelers

Less than two hours before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, the Green Bay Packers have traded defensive end Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a source told Packers On SI.

According to reports, the Packers got a seventh-round pick in return.

Will the Packers make another move or will they be sellers again, just like last year, when they sent cornerback Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills at the deadline?

This is a win-win trade. Smith wanted more playing time; he had been pushed slowly into the background with the Packers.

Smith played 54 snaps (71.1 percent playing time) in Week 1 against the Eagles. However, he played what was a season-low 28 snaps (43.8 percent) against the Texans in Week 7. Then, in Sunday’s loss against the Lions, he played a season-low 21 snaps (season-low 36.8 percent).

For the season, he has played in 54 percent of the defensive snaps, down sharply from 66 percent last year, 80 percent in 2022 and a career-high 84 percent in 2019, when he was signed in free agency.

Smith was on his way to perhaps the quietest season of his career. He has 2.5 sacks – 2.0 sacks against Tennessee in Week 3 and a half-sack against the Rams in Week 4. The last four games, however, he had zero sacks. In fact, he had zero sacks, zero tackles for losses and one quarterback, according to the official stats, and two total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, during that span.

Unless another move is coming before the 3 p.m. Central deadline, the Packers will push to the playoffs with Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare and Arron Mosby as their four-man rotation at end.

Smith, who will turn 32 on Nov. 17, was the second-oldest player on the roster behind kicker Brandon McManus.

This story will be updated.