Matt Eberflus’ star linebacker hadn’t participated in practice since OTAs over the summer.
Smith hadn’t participated in any work on the field since OTAs over the summer. Teammates and coaches said Smith had remained engaged with the team during his holdin, both in meetings and by hanging out on the sidelines during practice and preseason games. Now rejoining Nick Morrow in the middle of the defense will help the team as a whole, as Smith’s weakside linebacker position is a key cog in Matt Eberflus’ and Alan Williams’ scheme.
Earlier this year, both the Bears and Smith expressed confidence that an agreement on a new deal could be reached. But when the two sides seemed to reach a stalemate, things got ugly. Smith released a statement through Ian Rapoport, accusing the team of negotiating in bad faith and saying he didn’t believe there was a path back to the organization for him. The statement culminated in a trade request.
Smith has led the Bears in tackles every single season of his career. He was named second-team All-Pro in 2020 and 2021.
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