Smith (shoulder) is active for Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Smith was working through a shoulder issue this past week and drew the questionable tag for Week 1, but he was trending in the right direction after fully participating in Friday's practice. The veteran edge rusher has been given the green light to play Sunday, and he should see a healthy workload given the absences of both Jalon Walker (knee) and James Pearce (suspension).
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Za'Darius Smith: Looks likely to play Sunday
Rotowire
Smith (shoulder), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers, is expected to play, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Unless he experiences a setback leading up to the 1 p.m. ET kickoff, Smith looks set to play through the shoulder issue that kept him from practicing Thursday and limited his participation Wednesday. With Jalon Walker (knee) out for the season and James Pearce suspended for the first eight games of the campaign, the Falcons will be counting on the 34-year-old Smith to serve as a key pass rusher.
... See More... See Less
Eagles' Za'Darius Smith: Hangs up cleats
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Za'Darius Smith: In line to be released
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Za'Darius Smith: Sacks Love in Week 14
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Za'Darius Smith: Practices in full Wednesday
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Za'Darius Smith: Not expected to play Sunday
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Lions' Za'Darius Smith: Questionable for Detroit debut
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Za'Darius Smith: Gets to quarterback again
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Za'Darius Smith: Good to go vs. Washington
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Za'Darius Smith: All clear for Week 2
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Za'Darius Smith: Records sack in defeat
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Za'Darius Smith: Avoids serious injury
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Za'Darius Smith: Re-signing with Cleveland
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Za'Darius Smith: Heads to X-ray room
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Za'Darius Smith: Gets in limited practice
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Za'Darius Smith: Dealt to Browns
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Za'Darius Smith: Return to form in 2022
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Za'Darius Smith: Questionable, but expected to play
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Vikings' Za'Darius Smith: Deemed questionable for Sunday
Rotowire
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.
