Green Bay Packers linebacker Za'Darius Smith and offensive tackle Billy Turner are being released, the team announced Monday.
“We want to thank Za’Darius for his contributions to the Packers over the past three seasons,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said in the team's release. “He came in and made an immediate impact on this football team, helping the team win three straight division titles. We want to wish Za’Darius and his family all the best moving forward.”
Smith, who has played with the team for three seasons, is reportedly being released in order to save $15.75 million in cap space.
In 2021 Smith played in just one regular-season game for the Packers, a 38-3 loss to the New Orleans Saints, recording one solo tackle before undergoing back surgery.
He recorded 13.5 sacks in 2019 and 12.5 in 2020, one of only three players with 12 or more sacks those seasons along with Aaron Donald and T.J. Watt.
Turner's release will reportedly save the Packers just under $6 million once completed.
“We want to thank Billy for the big contributions he made to the Packers both on the field as well as in the locker room since signing in 2019,” said Gutekunst in the release. “He is a true professional whose work ethic and leadership were big factors in the team’s success over the last few years. We wish Billy and his family all the best in the future.”
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