Bart Scott and Louis Riddick react after Jaylon Smith's release from the Cowboys was signed by the Packers. (1:22).
GREEN BAY (Wis.) The Green Bay Packers have signed a new inside linebacker. It couldn't have been better. Jaylon Smith is a great addition to their defense if it helps in any way as De'Vondre Camp has.
Two days after Smith was released by Dallas Cowboys, the Packers reached an agreement to sign Smith.
This move comes just four months after Campbell was signed by the Packers near the end their offseason program.
Campbell started all of this season's games and was a major playmaker on defense for the Packers with an interception and a fumble recovery. He also had 40 tackles.
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This is the spot that Campbell could be Smiths. Krys Barnes, a second-year pro, manned this position until he was concussed in Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers. Joe Barry, the defensive coordinator, has replaced Oren Burks with Ty Summers in that position.
Barnes could be back this week and Smith wouldn't likely be available to play Sunday at Bengals (1:05 p.m.). ET, Fox). If Smith can adapt to Barry's plan, which emphasizes inside linebacker play and is highly structured, then maybe he will be upgraded.
When asked Wednesday about the possibility of Smith being hired by the Packers, Aaron Rodgers, Packers quarterback, said that he likes Smith as a person.
Although he is a tough competitor, he has an infectious smile. So I appreciate that about him, and it was just more of a respectful competitor-to-competitor conversation after the game. Although I have not heard anything, I believe that any veteran player can be added to a team. Sometimes it is just a matter of changing the environment for those players to play their best.
Smith's inability to speed up, particularly when compared with Campbell, could eventually limit his potential. Barry may be able to conceal Smith's shortcomings, but even though Smith is only 26, he doesnt look like the player he was in his earlier career.
Jaylon Smith might just need a change in scenery to reach his full potential. The Packers are happy to provide that opportunity. AP Photo/Roger Steinman
The Cowboys made the decision to move on, not only because of a drop in performance but also because of financial/salary-cap factors. The Cowboys would be responsible for Smith's $9.2 million salary if he had been injured. The Packers were able to buy Smith cheaply because Dallas now pays the rest of Smith's $7.2 million salary.
Matt LaFleur, Packers coach, has had some personal experiences with Smith just as he did with Campbell. LaFleur was the Notre Dame quarterbacks coach in 2014. Smith was a Fighting Irish player. LaFleur worked previously with Campbell when both were with Atlanta Falcons in 2016. LaFleur was the quarterbacks coach, while Campbell was a rookie.
Smith had already left Notre Dame, but LaFleur was still there when he suffered a terrible knee injury in his last college game. This injury kept Smith out of his rookie season, 2016, in the NFL. He made his pro debut in 2017, and has been in every game since.
It's been an amazing story, having known Jaylon. LaFleur stated in 2019, when the Packers were about to face the Cowboys. "I have always loved him as a person and to see him overcome the adversity he faced when so many people told him that he wouldn't play [again].
