The Detroit Lions didn’t bring in Za’Darius Smith to just win any regular-season game. They signed him to help them chase a Super Bowl title.
In an unusual gesture, the Lions greeted their new defensive end by sending him home. Smith won’t join the team until Friday, and head coach Dan Campbell is unsure if he’ll be ready to play Sunday night against the Houston Texans.
“He’s a veteran, and with the Browns on their bye this week, he got the call, everything got sorted out, and we’ll let him take a breather before joining us Friday,” Campbell said Wednesday.
The Lions acquired Smith specifically for his pass-rushing prowess. To secure him, Detroit sent Cleveland a fifth-round pick in 2025 and swapped 2026 sixth- and seventh-round picks.
“It’s challenging to find quality pass rushers during the season,” Campbell said. “Teams don’t typically want to part with them — it’s just smart.”
Smith’s arrival follows the loss of the Lions’ star pass rusher, Aidan Hutchinson, who broke his left leg in mid-October. Despite missing four games, Hutchinson is still ranked fifth in the NFL with 7.5 sacks and second with 17 quarterback hits.
But Hutchinson’s injury isn’t the only issue. The Lions are also down starting defensive end Marcus Davenport, out for the season with an arm injury, while linebacker Derrick Barnes and defensive end John Cominsky are on injured reserve with knee injuries. Josh Paschal, another defensive end who previously overcame cancer, missed the last two games to remove a benign growth.
“We took a big hit at one position — we lost both our starters and our depth,” Campbell said. “Adding someone there is crucial, but it’s tough. It’s not like replacing a receiver or a running back.”
Paschal is expected back for the Texans game, and Campbell believes Smith could take some snaps.
“We’ll see how much we can get him up to speed with our packages, but he’ll definitely have a role,” Campbell said. “We’ll know more when he arrives on Friday.”
The Lions will also get wide receiver Jameson Williams back from a two-game suspension.
“I’ve learned to think and act smarter in certain situations,” Williams said. “It’s a big confidence boost to know how much trust Coach has in me.”
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