Smith announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday, Eliot Shorr-Parks of Sports Radio 94 WIP Philadelphia reports.
The 33-year-old edge rusher from Kentucky signed with the Eagles in early September and tallied 10 total tackles, including 1.5 sacks, over the team's last five games. However, he's since decided to call it a career. Smith, an 11-year NFL veteran, spent time with the Ravens, Packers, Vikings, Browns, Lions and Eagles throughout his career, recording 70.5 sacks and 11 forced fumbles over 145 regular-season appearances. He made three Pro Bowls from 2019 to 2022 and received second-team All-Pro honors in 2020 with the Packers. With Smith retiring Monday, Azeez Ojulari is likely to play a larger role on Philadelphia's defense moving forward.
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Eagles' Za'Darius Smith: Signs with Philly
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The Eagles signed Smith on Friday.
Smith was released by the Lions back in March and spent the summer working out on his own. Turning 33 years old next week, Smith appeared in 17 regular-season games (16 starts) with the Browns and Lions last season, finishing with 35 tackles (22 solo), including 9.0 sacks. He gives the Eagles an experienced pass rusher off the edge.
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Za'Darius Smith: In line to be released
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The Lions are releasing Smith, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Smith was entering the second of a two-year, $23 million contract and would have been a $5.75 million cap hit for Detroit in 2025. The 33-year-old provided much needed production for the Lions after being traded from the Browns last season, logging 4.0 sacks over the final eight games of the 2024 campaign. Smith totaled 9.0 sacks over 17 regular-season games last year, and he should get plenty of attention this offseason from teams in need of pass-rushing help. Meanwhile, the Lions likely will look to the draft or free agency to find a new edge defender to play opposite Aidan Hutchinson, who is coming off a season-ending leg injury.
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Lions' Za'Darius Smith: Sacks Love in Week 14
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Smith tallied two solo tackles, including 1.0 sacks, in Detroit's 34-31 win over Green Bay in Week 14.
Smith sacked Jordan Love for a seven-yard loss midway through the first quarter. Smith has logged 3.0 sacks in the four regular-season games since being acquired by the Lions in a trade with the Browns in early November, and he's up to 8.0 sacks on the season through 13 regular-season games. He'll have his work cut out for him in terms of adding to that total against Josh Allen and the Bills in Week 15.
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Lions' Za'Darius Smith: Practices in full Wednesday
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Smith (personal) was not listed on Wednesday's injury report.
Smith was held out of this past Sunday's game against Houston after being traded from Cleveland to Detroit on Nov. 5, but he will be good to go against Jacksonville on Sunday, Nov. 17. Through the first nine regular-season games with the Browns, Smith logged 23 tackles (15 solo), including 5.0 sacks.
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Lions' Za'Darius Smith: Not expected to play Sunday
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Smith (personal), who is officially questionable for Sunday's game against Houston, isn't likely to suit up, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Smith was dealt from Cleveland to Detroit on Tuesday, and Rapoport suggests that the edge rusher is "not quite ready" to make his Lions debut. Since he's not dealing with an injury, Smith will likely be able to participate in Detroit's following game, which will take place Nov. 17 against Jacksonville. With Smith expected to be absent against the Texans, Josh Paschal and James Houston should continue to be called upon as Detroit's primary edge rushers.
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Lions' Za'Darius Smith: Questionable for Detroit debut
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Smith (personal) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Texans.
Smith was just acquired from the Browns at the trade deadline Tuesday, so it's fair to wonder if he's up to speed with the defense. If cleared to suit up, Smith could play strictly on passing downs, allowing him to rush the passer.
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Browns' Za'Darius Smith: Gets to quarterback again
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Smith recorded three tackles (two solo) including 1.0 sacks during Sunday's 34-13 loss at Washington.
Smith's sack Sunday was his third of the season through five games. He's on pace for the fourth double-digit sack season of his career, and he has some IDP allure heading into a Week 6 matchup at Philadelphia.
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Browns' Za'Darius Smith: Good to go vs. Washington
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Smith (neck) was limited in Friday's practice but does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Commanders.
Smith popped up on Thursday's practice report with a neck injury. While he was limited in practice Thursday and Friday, there appears to be no concern that the 2015 fourth-round pick is in jeopardy of missing Sunday's game. Smith has accrued 10 tackles (seven solo), including 2.0 sacks, through the first four games of the regular season.
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Browns' Za'Darius Smith: All clear for Week 2
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Smith (back) practiced in a limited fashion Friday and does not carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Smith and Myles Garrett (foot) have both been cleared for Sunday's road matchup. It appears that the tandem of veteran pass rushers were simply dealing with soreness. Smith tallied three tackles (two solo), including 1.0 sacks, versus Dallas in Week 1 and will look to keep up his momentum versus Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville on Sunday.
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Browns' Za'Darius Smith: Records sack in defeat
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Smith recorded three tackles (two solo), including 1.0 sacks, during the Browns' 33-17 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday.
Smith ended the 2023 regular season with 27 tackles, including 5.5 sacks, and his solid start Sunday could portend another productive campaign for the veteran pass rusher.
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Browns' Za'Darius Smith: Avoids serious injury
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Additional tests Tuesday revealed that Smith (knee) avoided serious injury during Monday's practice session, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Smith was carted off the field during Monday's practice after sustaining a knee injury. However, additional tests didn't reveal anything serious, and the veteran pass rusher is expected to be fine with rest. That likely means he will be out for at least the first preseason game against the Packers on Saturday, though the Browns could be extra cautious and keep Smith out for the entire preseason, which gives Alex Wright an opportunity to get reps with the first-team defense. Cleveland signed defensive end Marcus Haynes on Tuesday to provide depth in Smith's absence.
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Browns' Za'Darius Smith: Re-signing with Cleveland
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Smith is set to re-sign with the Browns on Wednesday on a two-year, $23.5 million deal that could be worth as much as $25 million, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Smith was traded to the Browns by the Vikings last May and went on to record 27 tackles, including 5.5 sacks, three passes defensed and one forced fumble in 2023. The veteran also played on 59 percent of the team's defensive snaps.
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Browns' Za'Darius Smith: Heads to X-ray room
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Smith went to the X-ray room following Sunday's loss to the Seahawks, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Smith didn't have a major impact during Sunday's matchup, as he tallied just one assisted tackle. The nature of his injury isn't yet clear, but the results of his X-rays could help determine his availability for next Sunday's game against Arizona.
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Browns' Za'Darius Smith: Gets in limited practice
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Smith (ankle) was a limited participant at practice Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
After he missed practice entirely Wednesday, Smith took a step in the right direction Thursday towards being available for Week 3. He'll still most likely need to log a full practice Friday to avoid taking an injury designation into the weekend.
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Vikings' Za'Darius Smith: Dealt to Browns
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Smith has been traded to the Browns from the Vikings along with a 2025 sixth-round and seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round and 2025 fifth-round pick, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Smith's contract was apparently a key element in this trade for Minnesota along with the Browns' need for more defense. He will go from a 3-4 defense in Minnesota to a 4-3 in Cleveland. The veteran returned to form in 2022 during his lone season with the Vikings by accumulating 44 tackles (32 solo), including 10 sacks and a career-high five passes defended.
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Vikings' Za'Darius Smith: Return to form in 2022
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Over 16 regular-season games in 2022, Smith accumulated 44 tackles (32 solo), including 10 sacks, and a career-high five passes defended in his first campaign with the Vikings.
Smith played all but one regular-season game in 2022 after he missed nearly all of the 2021 campaign with Green Bay while recovering from back surgery. The 30-year-old edge rusher was still limited to his fewest number of defensive snaps (735) since the 2018 season, as he regularly appeared on the weekly injury report while dealing with a knee issue. While his production also slowed with just one-half sack over the final eight weeks of the regular season, he did log double-digit sacks for the third time in his career. Smith formed an effective pass-rushing duo in his first season alongside Danielle Hunter (10.5 sacks). However, it's unclear if this pairing will be kept together since the Vikings are currently $24.5 million over the cap heading into 2023.
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Vikings' Za'Darius Smith: Questionable, but expected to play
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Smith (personal) is questionable for Sunday's matchup in Chicago, but he's still expected to play against the Bears, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Per Goessling, it's unclear if Smith will travel with the team to Chicago, but the star pass rusher is expected to join the Vikings before Sunday's game. After recording 9.5 sacks over his first nine appearances with Minnesota, Smith has mustered just half a sack across the past seven games.
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Vikings' Za'Darius Smith: Deemed questionable for Sunday
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Smith (knee) is questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Cowboys.
Smith suffered a knee contusion during Minnesota's Week 10 win over Buffalo and was limited throughout Week 11 prep. If the star pass rusher is sidelined, D.J. Wonnum and Patrick Jones would be candidates for increased roles.
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Vikings' Za'Darius Smith: Returns versus Arizona
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Smith (knee) returned to Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.
Smith exited shortly before the end of the second quarter with a knee injury, though he was able to return on the opening series of the second half. The veteran pass rusher recorded four tackles including two sacks in the first half against Arizona.
