Star Eagles WR keeps people guessing on NFL season opener in Brazil

Ben Brigandi

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Star Eagles WR keeps people guessing on NFL season opener in Brazil image

Whatever DeVonta Smith’s thoughts and feelings are surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles opening their season with a first-time trip to Brazil, he’s not saying. 

The Eagles meet the Green Bay Packers next Friday, Sept. 6, at 8:15 (Peacock), with the game at Arena Corinthians in São Paolo, Brazil.

And Smith, speaking Thursday as the Eagles head into an off-weekend with the preseason behind them, chose not to elaborate on the trip, saying, “No comment.”

During a June 6 appearance on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast, Packers running back Josh Jacobs suggested it wasn't safe to wear green in São Paolo, and that he believed it had "something to do with the gangs," the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

NFL spokesperson Tim Schlittner told USA TODAY in June that green is traditionally prohibited at the stadium because it's the color for Palmeiras, a rival soccer club to Corinthians, but that the ban would not apply to players and fans during the Eagles-Packers game. 

Smith, like other Eagles offensive starters, did not play in preseason games. Last year, he caught 81 passes for 1,066 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Eagles play their home opener on Monday, Sept. 16 vs. the Falcons.

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Ben Brigandi

Ben Brigandi Photo

Ben Brigandi is a lifelong professional in sports media, as a writer and editor. Career highlights include covering future pros in high school and even younger, from kicker Robbie Gould in high school to Jurickson Profar, Cody Bellinger, and others at the Little League World Series held in his neighborhood. Born and raised in central Pennsylvania, Ben graduated from Penn State with a degree in journalism and covered Nittany Lion games for nearly two decades after attending games as a kid growing up in Happy Valley. He’s seen the Eagles go from hated rivals to his boyhood favorite Washington Commanders to accepting their success as Dan Snyder ruined his fandom. One day, Ben dreams of again playing golf to a legit single-digit handicap, without either putting in the work or sinking pesky 3-foot putts.