GREEN BAY, Wis.— Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith has undergone back surgery that may jeopardize his season; it only increases the importance of Preston Smith.

"Me and him, we came together," said Smith, another outside linebacker. "Since we've been here, we've made sure that we establish expectations in the room that no matter who's on the field, this is the expectation. We speak up as veterans and say what is acceptable and what's not acceptable. I own up to my faults and I tell the guys this is unacceptable of me. I don't want to be that example for you guys, but I just try to make sure I go out there and be the best example for those guys each and every day in each and every week."

Head coach Matt LaFleur sees Smith's potential.

"P's had a lot of great moments I think," said LaFleur. "He's playing more consistently. I think the energy and effort's there. I think he's doing a good job of being a leader on our defense. He's just got to keep stacking those games back to back to back. We need him to be a disruptive force for our defense to be at its best."

After his production dropped last season, Smith took a sizable pay cut to return to Green Bay.

"Just the mindset, to just come in and play at a high level and be the best teammate I can be, regardless of the off the field stuff," Smith said. "People don't understand, it's a business. You gotta understand business and never put your feelings into it. Just handle it the correct way. Who knows? If I have a great season, I [may] see a bigger payday." 

Smith said the unselfish team atmosphere in Green Bay doesn't exist everywhere in the NFL. 

"I'm really proud of Preston,"  quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. "Preston has come in after taking a pay cut, and he's been a great teammate, a great leader. He's practiced really well, and I thought he has played really good. I thought he played well all three games."