Tag: Za’Darius Smith

Dan Campbell on Za’Darius Smith: ‘He’s going to help us big-time’

Lions head coach Dan Campbell on new EDGE Za’Darius Smith: ‘He’s going to help us big-time’

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.”

Lions post-Week 10 injury report and medical analysis

Lions post-Week 10 injury report and medical analysis after the win in Houston and getting ready for Week 11 and the Jaguars

I just returned from Houston where I voluntarily and eagerly overdosed on smoked brisket and Tex-Mex fajitas. Conversely, I involuntarily and begrudgingly overdosed on watching interceptions. At least the final result was a panacea.

Other notes from the stadium:

  • The Texans Battle Red helmets looked fantastic with the mirror red finish. The Lions silver helmets look much shinier and sparkly in person than they do on TV. With the Lions blueberries, this could have been a gorgeous color rush game but alas.
  • The roof was open for only the second time since 2021 which afforded a nice view of the moon and the fireworks. Fortunately, there was not even a hint of wind as that could easily have changed the outcome of the game with how tight Jake Bates’ field goals were to the uprights.
  • Credit to the Texans fans for being raucous all game and the Lions fans for bringing the heat in the fourth quarter. It was an excellent Sunday night atmosphere all the way around.

The game was overall a very healthy one for the Lions. Nothing live at the game jumped out to me from an injury standpoint. There were some minor concerns upon TV review, but the initial injury report is reassuring. The main concern was Sam LaPorta and there is early good news with him.

DETROIT LIONS

Sam LaPorta TE (NP) shoulder

LaPorta suffered a left AC joint sprain. Dan Campbell on Wednesday called it “day-to-day”. If this was the playoffs or a significant regular season game, I would fully expect him to play. Since it’s not, I expect him to miss at least this Sunday vs the Jaguars. There is no long-term concern though.

Taylor Decker OT (LP) shoulder

Decker stated he had a rotator cuff strain in practice last week. He has a history of shoulder labrum surgery in 2017 to the same side. Fortunately, the signs are that this is a minor, short-term issue. Dan Campbell on Wednesday stated “I feel better about having Decker this week… I think he’s going to be able to make it”.

Malcolm Rodriguez LB (LP) ankle

After two straight weeks of NP’s, upgrading to an LP on Wednesday is a good sign that he may be ready to go after missing two games.

Brodric Martin DT (FP) knee

After being on IR all year with a right knee hyperextension, Martin had his 21-day practice window opened on October 30. Expect him to be out for the Jaguars game and moved to the active roster early next week.

Ifeatu Melifonwu S (FP) ankle

Coming off IR with a suspected Achilles tendonitis, Melifonwu’s practice window opened November 6. He’s very likely out on Sunday but should be moved to the active roster before Thanksgiving.

Emmanuel Moseley CB (FP) pec

Recovering from his torn pec in August, Moseley’s 21-day practice window opened November 6. Like Melifonwu, he’s also likely out this Sunday but will move to the active roster before Thanksgiving.

Za’Darius Smith DE (FP) personal

Smith got a personal bye week after the trade and should be raring to go this week.

NOTABLES

Graham Glasgow in the first drive vs the Texans landed on his head and got up shaking his head. This was not shown on TV but I noticed it at the game. Fortunately, there has been no concussion diagnosis.

Carlton Davis in the 3rd quarter got kneed hard in the back of the right lower leg and limped off the field. This was likely just a contusion as he returned to play. Direct impact to that area can lead to a much worse outcome as we saw with Aidan Hutchinson’s tib/fib.

Alim McNeill appeared to be having right TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain in the 3rd quarter. I reviewed video of the play as well as multiple previous plays of his and didn’t see any trauma to that area. Possibly, he just bit down hard and injured that joint. He was able to return to the game and should be fine going forward. Most TMJ pains will resolve on their own without significant treatment. Injecting the joint is an option to relieve pain and inflammation.

Terrion Arnold, on the Lions final defensive play, had his right ankle area banged a couple times which left him limping off the field. Good to see him unlisted which means it’s likely just a contusion.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Trevor Lawrence QB (NP) left shoulder

Lawrence missed last game with a non-throwing AC joint sprain and will also miss the Lions game. Mac Jones was 14/22 for 111 yards last game vs the Vikings.

Tank Bigsby RB (NP) ankle

Bigsby is the Jaguars #1 RB this year with 519 yards. He has been having an ankle issue the past 2-3 weeks and aggravated it last game. With an NP, there is a good chance he’ll get some time off which would mean Travis Etienne Jr. (298 yards) likely takes the bulk of the carries.

Brian Thomas WR (LP) chest

Thomas, the Jaguars #1 WR, hurt his ribs two weeks ago but hasn’t missed a game. Expect him to play on Sunday.

NOTABLES

Christian Kirk, the Jaguars 2nd-leading WR, is on IR with a clavicle fracture suffered two weeks ago.

Here is the full report:

 

Za’Darius Smith not expected to play Sunday vs. Texans

Za’Darius Smith’s debut likely on hold for a week, but he at least gets his week off.

Lions fans will have to wait a week to see the debut of new edge rusher Za’Darius Smith. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Smith, who was acquired by the Lions on Tuesday just before the trade deadline, will not play Sunday night against the Houston Texans.

Rapoport reports Smith is “not quite ready.” This could also be a case of the Lions giving Smith some time off. The Browns did not have their bye week before making this trade and the Lions have already had their bye week.

In other words, if Smith had played today, he would have potentially not had his own bye week and could have played 18 games. So this could also be simple load management by the Lions.

Za’Darius Smith explains his cryptic tweet on NFL trade deadline day

New Lions EDGE Za’Darius Smith explains his cryptic tweet on NFL trade deadline day

This past Tuesday was the NFL trade deadline. As anxious as Lions fans were about potentially adding some pass rush help, the player Detroit acquired was notably full of angst as well.

Za’Darius Smith wanted out of Cleveland, where the Browns are 2-7 and drifting farther away from contention with every passing week. Smith had even made it known that Detroit was his preferred destination.

So when a long-rumored deal wasn’t getting done yet on Tuesday morning, Smith shared his frustration with a simple social media post.

“SMH”

Whether the cryptic tweet helped grease the skids for the trade, we may never know. But the deal was done less than 90 minutes later and Smith deleted the post. In his first meeting with the Detroit media, Smith smiled and explained the post.

“It was just taking too long. It was taking too long,” Smith told reporters on Friday. “But obviously they got it done, and I deleted it man. Sorry to the fans that were thinking otherwise.”

The consummate professional, Smith did take time to thank the Browns for a successful stint there and for getting a deal done with Detroit.

“(I) thank them, man, for just having me for two years,” Smith stated. “Well, a year and a half, and trading me here for basically giving me a chance to go do something great.”

Smith is questionable for Sunday night’s game in Houston after only practicing on Friday.

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Will new Lions DE Za’Darius Smith play on Sunday night vs. Texans?

Za’Darius is headed to Detriot, but will he be on the field when the Lions take on the Texans this Sunday?

Za’Darius Smith was brought in to upgrade the pass rush entering the second half of the Detroit Lions season.

He might have to wait a week before debuting with his new team.

Lions coach Dan Campbell told reporters on Wednesday that the team would give Smith off until Friday, thus allowing him time to acclimate and enjoy some rest on what would have been his bye week with the Cleveland Browns.

If Smith doesn’t appear on the Lions injury report on Friday, it likely means he’s good to when the NFC favorites take on the Houston Texans. If he does, Detriot could be missing its best pass-rusher when facing C.J. Stroud.

“He’ll be back with us on Friday and we’ll see exactly where he’s at. I can’t confirm whether he’s going to play or not,” Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. “That’ll be up to coach Campbell and (Smith) to see exactly where he’s at, but I am excited having that player.”

Smith, 32, joins a Lions’ roster hit by a litany of injuries toward their defensive line over the last month. Aidan Hutchinson (leg), Marcus Davenport (pectoral), Derrick Barnes (knee) and John Cominsky (knee), have all dealt with ailments that have sidelined them for weeks.

Hutchinson, who was on pace with Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. for Defensive Player of the Year, is out for the season. Davenport won’t return until at least the playoffs, should the Lions continue their success.
Enter Smith, a three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher with five sacks already attached to his name. Over the past three games, the Lions’ pass rush has registered just five sacks to Smith’s 2.5.

The Texans are prepping for the Lions with the intention of Smith seeing the field. Despite being on a new team, Houston faced Smith twice last season during the regular season and AFC Wild Card Round.

In the first go-around, Smith registered three tackles for loss and two sacks.

“One thing that sticks out about him is that he rushes with power. He’s quick, explosive, rushes with power,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “And of course, we have to have eyes on him at all times, be well aware that we have to make sure we’re blocking him.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on NBC.

Za’Darius Smith gets his Lions jersey number from a new teammate

Za’Darius Smith gets his familiar No. 99 jersey with the Lions and Brodric Martin changes his number

When new Lions defensive Za’Darius Smith makes his debut in Detroit’s Week 10 game in Houston on Sunday night, the veteran will be wearing his familiar jersey number. Smith, acquired in a trade on Tuesday from the Cleveland Browns, is listed on the Lions’ official roster as No. 99.

That number wasn’t immediately available when Smith joined the team. Defensive tackle Brodric Martin has been wearing No. 99, though Martin has yet to play in 2024. Martin, who wore No. 98 as a rookie in 2023, is now listed as No. 96. Injured DT Kyle Peko, who is out for the season, previously wore the 96 jersey.

No word on if Smith gave up anything to acquire the 99 jersey from Martin. The new No. 96 is in his second week of practicing after being designated to return from I.R.

How much cap space do the Browns have in 2025 after Za’Darius Smith trade?

After trading away Za’Darius Smith, we take a loot at their future cap outlook.

The Cleveland Browns traded Za’Darius Smith, who was due a cap number of $5.7 million in 2025.

However, due to the void year the Browns used to space out his cap hit, they do have to eat all of his bonuses in the contract, taking on $14.2 million in dead money when they dealt him to the Detroit Lions. This is added to the $22.5 million in dead money they are eating for trading wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills as well.

This must mean the Browns are sitting in a bad spot with their salary cap, right? Not so fast. While on paper they are currently slotted at $8 million in the red, even factoring in the approximately $45 million they will roll over from 2024, there is a great deal of cap flexibility baked into their current contracts to clear plenty of space to play with.

So let’s take a look at their salary cap situation in 2025 after trading Smith.

The Browns only account for 41 of 53 players in 2025, however, so we have to consider that 12 other players and their salaries will be added.

Most of these players will come in the form of rookies on rookie contracts, so filling out the majority of the rest of the roster will be inexpensive. However, we still want to leave room to potentially trade for a veteran or sign a few free agents right?

So some more cap space will have to be cleared.

Whether the fans or national media like it or not, the Browns are going to restructure the contract of Deshaun Watson again in 2025. This does not make him any less cuttable after the season. The full amount is already guaranteed, so if you can push the same amount of money today into a rising cap total, that is what the Browns are going to do.

This will clear about $44 million in cap space for the Browns alone and push them to about $36 million in the positive. Right tackle Jack Conklin is also a cuttable asset, however, if he stays healthy and continues to play well they may want to keep him around another year.

Cornerback Denzel Ward has a deal that would be quite easy to restructure as well that would clear about another $12 million in cap space. If the Browns hang onto Greg Newsome II and do not trade him, they could do the same and clear about another $12 million there. His money is already guaranteed as well, so they wouldn’t be adding any more guaranteed money to make this move either.

Even without cutting Conklin in this case, the Browns would already sit at around $60 million in cap space. Cutting Conklin would push that total closer to $77 million. Again, we have to account for the other 12 players that the Browns will have to add to the roster, so a more realistic number might sit around $55-60 million in cap space next year as a cushion.

Again, the Browns love to roll over around $30 million (more this year), so the number of effective money to use may sit closer to $20-$25 million. Which is still plenty.

So despite eating a ton of dead cap money by trading both Cooper and Smith, the Browns essentially bought a third round pick from the Bills with Cooper’s money and bought a fifth and sixth round pick from the Lions.

Any free agent the Browns will sign as well will have a base minimum salary with the majority of their first year of the deal being paid out in the form of bonuses. This does not count against the cap space. This has been the case with any contract extension or big free agent like Dalvin Tomlinson that has been added.

Despite the dreaded Watson contract, the Browns retain plenty of cap flexibility heading into the future.

Film Study: Lions new DE Za’Darius Smith is a near-perfect fit for the Lions defense

Film Study: Lions new DE Za’Darius Smith is a near-perfect fit for the Lions defense

It’s been a few weeks in the making but the Detroit Lions finally made the trade with the Cleveland Browns for Za’Darius Smith. Adding the talented defensive end was much needed after the Lions lost Aidan Hutchinson for the season due to his leg injury.

With this addition, the Lions are getting a veteran defender that has started more than 80 games in his career. During that time, he has over 300 tackles and 65 sacks. The former 4th round pick from the 2015 NFL Draft has found success playing for the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns.

Currently, Smith is playing on a 2-year contract worth a total of $23 million dollars. For the Lions, most of that money has been paid out from the Browns so currently, Smith will count as a $605,000 cap hit for the Lions (per Spotrac). There is an option for the Lions to let him go after the season, if it isn’t a fit and it wouldn’t cost them anything in dead cap money. If the Lions decided to bring him back for 2025 to pair with Hutchinson, it would only cost them a cap hit of $5.4 million dollars.

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So, the tenured player has been a productive player and has more than a reasonable contract for the Lions. But what does he bring to the team? Let’s jump into some film to see what Smith will provide the Lions defense moving forward!

 

During the absence of Hutchinson, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has done a good job getting creative to generate pressure. Whether it be blitzing from all angles or designing a variation of line stunts, Glenn is doing whatever he can to form some type of pass rush.

Now his job gets somewhat easier to execute that game plan with the addition of Za’Darius Smith. Looking at the play above, you’ll see Za’Darius Smith (Browns DE 99) executing a T/E stunt for the Browns defense last season against the Texans.

Watch as he loops inside; he has more than enough speed and burst to get through the hole and close to the quarterback. Fortunately for the quarterback, he’s able to get the pass the ball while throwing off his back foot. However, it’s 3rd-and-long, and it’s one of those plays where Smith interrupts the timing, and it could lead to a sack or turnover. Adding that to a defense that is 2nd in the NFL with 11 interceptions on defense could do wonders for this unit.

 

Jumping into some tape from this year, one thing that immediately stood out with Smith is how he provides alignment versatility. He can play in a wide-9, tilt-5 and pretty much anywhere else a defensive coordinator wants to put him.

Looking at the play above, you’ll see Smith (Browns DE 99) align standing up over the right tackle as a 5-technique. However, he’s aimed or tilted towards the right guard. As he goes to rip across the face of the right guard, his pad level is a bit too high but he does his job by collapsing the middle as an interior pass rusher.

This works perfectly as there’s an outside rush from two defenders with wide alignments. This forces the quarterback to step up in the pocket and this is where he’s met by Smith for the sack.

 

Lastly, I want to highlight Smith’s ability to stop the run. Looking at the play above from a game against the Ravens this year, we’ll see Smith (Browns DE 99) is aligned over the tight end to the right of the formation.

Once the ball is snapped, Smith displays good burst while being able to rip across the face of the tight end. In the process, he bends down the line-of-scrimmage and helps make the tackle.

Having Smith present on the Lions defensive line won’t just help with generating a pass rush. He will also assist in stopping the run and teams will have to find ways to block him.

Overall, this deal had to be done by the Lions. They needed help up front for their defense and they should get it moving forward. So far this season, Smith has played 324 defensive snaps (per PFF).

This has led to 5 sacks and 27 pressures for Smith this season. From PFF, he’s earned a 73.6 overall grade and a 71.1 pass rush grade. Certainly, Smith is not graded as highly as Aidan Hutchinson but he will enter as the highest graded edge defender that is active on the team right now.

Pairing Smith with Alim McNeill, DJ Reader, Josh Paschal and the rest of their defensive line combinations should do wonders for this Lions defense. Having a defensive end that can turn speed-to-power, align anywhere on the line-of-scrimmage and execute the designed line stunts will be impactful. This move was the correct one by the Lions franchise and it should pay off in a big way for the next year and a half.

Lions stand pat at NFL trade deadline after the Za’Darius Smith deal

Lions GM Brad Holmes was unable to pull off any other trades at the deadline after acquiring Za’Darius Smith

The NFL trade deadline hit at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday with no fresh news involving the Detroit Lions. GM Brad Holmes and the Lions made their move hours earlier on Tuesday morning in acquiring EDGE Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for two Day 3 draft picks.

Other teams made some moves around the league, but none of the big-name pass rushers like Myles Garrett or Maxx Crosby were traded. Nor was NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson of the Bengals, a team that was a buyer at the trade deadline for just the second time since 1970.

None of the more realistic Lions targets wound up being dealt, either. Azeez Ojulari remains with the Giants, with New York apparently wanting too much in return for any other team to nibble. Chase Young and Carl Granderson are still New Orleans Saints, as unlikely as a Lions trade for either player might have been. Arden Key and Harold Landry stuck with the Titans, too.

Detroit lacked significant draft capital to make some minor moves, having already traded away next year’s third-round and fourth-round picks in trades made during the 2024 NFL Draft.

Nor did the Lions trade away any players, as expected. The injuries across the defensive line made any concept of dealing someone like James Houston or Isaiah Thomas prohibitive.

Lions add new DE before Week 10 matchup vs. Texans

The Detriot Lions are adding in a defensive end just in time to face off against the Houston Texans in Week 10 on Sunday Night Football.

The Houston Texans must prepare for the Detroit Lions, but must also study some Cleveland Browns’ defensive line tape.

The Lions acquired Za’Darius Smith in a trade with the AFC North franchise early Tuesday morning, adding a veteran pass rusher to their defense just a few hours before the 3 p.m. 2024 NFL trade deadline.

Smith, who’s racked up five sacks in nine games this season, is expected to be good to go when the Lions (7-1) take on the Texans (6-3) on Sunday Night Football in Week 10.

Smith, 32, has been a constant No. 2 option in the pass-rushing department over his decade in the Pros. The three-time Pro Bowler has 65 career sacks over the past 10 seasons with the Browns, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens.

Houston’s offensive line should at least know what to expect from Smith since Laremy Tunsil, Juice Scruggs and Shaq Mason went head-to-head with him twice down the stretch last season, including in the AFC Wild Card Round. Smith recorded two sacks on Christmas Eve against Case Keenum in the Browns’ 36-22 win during the regular season.

The Texans had the last laugh after taking him out of the game in a 45-14 win the following month in the wild-card matchup at home.

The Lions, winners of six straight and NFC favorites, have struggled to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks since Defensive Player of the Year candidate Aidan Hutchinson broke the tibia and fibula in his left leg in a Week 6 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Hutchinson was the star player, but not the only defender to sustain a season-ending injury, as fellow edge rusher Marcus Davenport suffered a knee injury last month. Detriot has recorded five other quarterback hits by defensive linemen in the past two games.

Houston’s offensive line could be in trouble if Smith starts hot. The Texans have allowed the second-most sacks (31) and the fourth-most pressures (89) through nine games this season.

“We have to be at our best at all times,” offensive lineman Tytus Howard said Monday. “We see everybody and hear everybody talk. We just have to be better because, at the end of the day, if we do our job, they don’t any reason to be talking about us.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on NBC.