Packers to place OLB Smith on IR with back issue
The Green Bay Packers will place OLB Za'Darius Smith on injured reserve with a lingering back injury, head coach Matt LaFleur said Friday.
Wisconsin teams
Rob Demovsky ESPN Staff Writer
Packers coach Matt LaFleur said they're putting Za'Darius Smith on injured reserve with the hope that his back allows him to return at some point this season. He'll make to miss a minimum of three games. He played 18 snaps in a part-time role in the opener after missing almost all of training camp. LaFleur said they weighed keeping him in a limited role or shutting him down for a while. "Why not try to get him as healthy as possible and have him more readily available, hopefully."
What is the best college football town in America?
Which college town has the best food? What about best scenery? Or pregame tailgate? If your school lands in the 16-team best college town bracket, vote @ESPNCFB on Twitter and Instagram.
Guide to every Week 2 NFL game: Picks, matchup nuggets, more
What to watch for in every game. Bold predictions. Fantasy advice. Key stats to know. It's all here for Week 2.
Rodgers: 'We're in big trouble' if we're freaking out after one week (0:46)
Rodgers: 'Big trouble' if Pack 'freak out' over loss
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said Thursday that he was sending a message to his teammates with his laid-back approach to Green Bay's Week 1 loss.
Giannis' mom, brother get Greek citizenship
NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo was in Greece for a meeting with the country's prime minister Thursday and a special ceremony to bestow Greek citizenship on his mother, Veronica, and younger brother Alex.
Our experts' picks for MVP and Finals winners
We polled the experts on the ESPN Forecast panel for their predictions heading into the 2021-22 NBA season.
Rob Demovsky ESPN Staff Writer
Josh Myers the only unexpected name on the Packers' injury report.
Lessons from ugly losses by the Packers, Bills and Titans: How their offenses failed in Week 1, what's next
Three of the NFL's best offenses from a year ago just began their seasons with head-scratching games. What happened?
Rob Demovsky ESPN Staff Writer
Packers DL coach Jerry Montgomery was not with the team today, although coach Matt LaFleur would not confirm the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report that Montgomery tested positive for COVID. The NFL doesn't believe it's related to any close contacts with the Saints, who have had cases since Sunday's game against Green Bay. "They emailed us and told us who those people could potentially be," LaFleur said. "There was no high-risk close contacts based on what the league told us."
Rob Demovsky ESPN Staff Writer
Good sign that Darnell Savage (shoulder) was able to practice today. Fellow safety Vernon Scott (hamstring) also returned. DNPs: Za'Darius Smith (back), Lucas Patrick (concussion), Josiah Deguara (concussion). Smith and Patrick were around during stretch but no Smith sighting.
Rob Demovsky ESPN Staff Writer
Matt LaFleur, when asked what the Packers' offense needs to do better in Week 2: “Where do I start?” He went on to say the Packers had “as many mental mistakes as we've had in a long time” in Week 1 vs. the Saints. “So we obviously didn't do a very good job as coaches of getting our guys knowing the plan inside and out.”
FiveThirtyEight: The First Week Of The NFL Season Was Pure Chaos. What Does That Mean For The Rest Of It?
Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season was deeply strange.
Bucks make landmark announcer hire in Byington
The Milwaukee Bucks have named Lisa Byington as the team's new television play-by-play announcer, making her the first woman to handle full-time TV play-by-play duties for a major men's professional sports team.
MLB Power Rankings: Where all 30 teams stand as the top squads start to clinch
Which squads are rising and falling as teams start punching their postseason tickets?
Garneau, Tigers complete 2-game sweep of contending Brewers
— Dustin Garneau homered and drove in two runs, rookie Matt Manning combined with the bullpen on a three-hitter and the Detroit Tigers beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-1 on Wednesday to complete a two-game sweep.
Hill's triple, Garneau's HR lead Tigers to win (1:03)
FiveThirtyEight: This Green Bay Quarterback Just Played The Worst Game Of His Career
After Aaron Rodgers spent much of the offseason in a power struggle with Green Bay Packers management, he suggested his play this fall would make all...
Graziano and Fowler predict Week 2 surprises, fantasy sleepers, more: Are the Bengals legit?
Which teams should be most worried? What opening-week surprises are for real? And which teams are ready for an upset win in Week 2? Our insiders weigh in.
Yelich to give away 10,000 tickets to Cards series
Brewers star Christian Yelich is purchasing 10,000 tickets to an upcoming home series and giving them away for free, the team announced Wednesday.
Jermichael Finley questions Aaron Rodgers' desire to lead Packers (1:38)
MLB Awards Watch: A Cy Young run for the ages and how Ohtani could lose AL MVP
As the end of the season looms, several MLB award races don't yet have a clear winner. Who has the edge?
NBA predictions: Win-loss records for Nets, Bucks and every East team
The Nets and Bucks could be battling for conference supremacy all season long. Our NBA Summer Forecast kicks off with records and standings predictions for every East team.
Hill hits game-winning double in 11th, Tigers beat Brewers
— Derek Hill hit a leadoff RBI double in the 11th inning, giving the Detroit Tigers a 1-0 win over Milwaukee on Tuesday night and snapping the Brewers' five-game win streak.
