Nearly two weeks after being acquired in a trade from the Cleveland Browns, defensive end Za’Darius Smith will take the field wearing Detroit Lions colors. Smith will make his Lions debut on Sunday in Week 11 against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars.
Smith didn’t play in the Week 10 win in Houston, though the veteran EDGE was prominent on the Detroit sideline. Head coach Dan Campbell gave him the bye week he would have had while with Cleveland. Campbell is now ready to unleash his new defensive weapon–but with some limitations.
“Yeah, we’ll work him in, we’ll make sure that we use him appropriately,” Campbell told reporters about Smith before Friday’s practice. “Look, he’s going to play on all downs, but we’re going to maximize what he’s got in the tank to help us. I guess, if you – pitch count, yes, somewhere in there we’ll get him some.”
As for Campbell’s expectations of Smith? It’s clear the Lions aren’t asking the 32-year-old Smith to become Aidan Hutchinson.
Campbell noted how well Smith is blending in with fellow linemates Josh Paschal and Alim McNeill, as well as his attention to detail beyond just rushing the passer 1-on-1. He then warned fans not to expect gaudy sack production like Hutchinson was producing,
“So, would I love to see six sacks? Yeah, absolutely, but no, so don’t come out of this game being like, ‘Well, he didn’t get six sacks. I mean, what are we doing?’ He’s going to help us and that’s going to be evident. That was good to see him yesterday, he’s going to help us big-time.”