The Green Bay Packers traded a conditional seventh-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for safety Anthony Smith, on Sunday.
This will be Smith’s second tour with the Packers. The team signed him as a free agent prior to last season, but he was among the final roster cuts.
Smith has started three games for Jacksonville at strong safety. He missed two others with turf toe. On the season, he has 15 tackles and an interception.
Since rookie Morgan Burnett tore his ACL in week four, the Packers have used Derrick Martin and Charlie Peprah at strong safety. Martin was injured in week five and joined Burnett on injured reserve, last week.
Peprah, who has started the last two games, has been less than spectacular. Although he did record 11 tackles against Miami, he’s also shown a tendency to get beat by the deep ball.
In Smith, the Packers get a veteran player who knows defensive coordinator Dom Capers’ system. We wouldn’t be surprised if he takes over the starting role within the next couple weeks.
The move also brings into question the readiness of Atari Bigby, who is on the physically unable to perform list with an injured ankle. Bigby is eligible to return this week.
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