Packers release LB Jaylon Smith, LS Hunter Bradley

November 2, 2021
|In Packers
|By Zach Heilprin

The Green Bay Packers made a number of roster moves Tuesday, though none included acquiring a player prior to the trade deadline at 3 p.m.

News broke in the early afternoon that the Jaylon Smith era with the Packers had come to an end. The team released the linebacker after he played just 27 snaps over two games and was inactive last week against Arizona.

As a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Smith was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2019 after overcoming a horrific leg injury suffered in his final college game at Notre Dame. He given a contract extension prior to the 2019 season but his play had fallen off the last two seasons and he was cut by the Cowboys earlier this year.

With the Packers, Smith seemed a step slow and finished with just one tackle.

The move could also be in preparation for activating wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling from injured reserve, Davante Adams from the reserve/COVID-19 list and left tackle David Bakhtiari from the physically unable to perform list. Releasing Smith leaves them at 50 players on the active roster and three spots open. Valdes-Scantling, Adams and Bakhtiari all could return in time for Sunday’s game at Kansas City.

Meanwhile, the Packers are moving on from long snapper Hunter Bradley. A 2018 seventh-round pick, Bradley was cut with Steven Wirtel being signed off the practice squad as a replacement.

The team also signed former Houston defensive lineman Abdullah Anderson to the practice squad. Linebacker Aaron Adeoye was released from the practice squad to make room.