Is Za’Darius Smith playing tonight?

The Detroit Lions made a major move ahead of the NFL trade deadline by trading for veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns. This was a much-needed reinforcement for the team, especially after losing key players like Aidan Hutchinson for the season and Marcus Davenport earlier in the year.

General manager Brad Holmes had been actively searching for a pass rusher since Hutchinson’s injury, and Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler with a history of impressive sack totals, was the best option available. Although Smith had a quieter 2023 season, he’s been strong in 2024, almost matching his sack total from last year in just nine games.

The Lions hoped to see Smith make his debut in Week 10 against the Houston Texans, but it looks like that won’t happen.

Is Za’Darius Smith playing tonight?

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Smith will not be making his debut in Week 10. He’s “not quite ready” to play yet.

Why is Za’Darius Smith not playing?

There are a couple of reasons why Smith won’t play in Week 10. One possibility is that he just hasn’t had enough time to get up to speed with the Lions’ defense. Smith joined the team just days before the game, and head coach Dan Campbell gave him extra days off to adjust since he didn’t have a bye week with the Browns. However, given Smith’s decade of experience in the NFL, it’s hard to believe he couldn’t have played a few snaps, especially with his knowledge of the game.

A more likely reason for his absence is that the Lions want to ensure Smith is fully prepared for the long stretch ahead, particularly considering his age (32) and the team’s plans to make a deep playoff run. Giving him a rest now would help keep him fresh for the more crucial games later in the season.

While Smith won’t suit up for Week 10, expect him to be ready to make his debut in Week 11, where he’ll hopefully add some much-needed firepower to Detroit’s defense.