Za’Darius Smith made an immediate impact on the Detroit Lions’ defense in their dominant 52-6 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
The newly acquired pass rusher, who arrived in Detroit after a stint in Cleveland, helped bolster the Lions’ defensive front in his debut.
Smith was a standout performer, leading the team with four quarterback pressures, including two quick ones, and combined with linebacker Jack Campbell to record Detroit’s only sack of the game.
His presence was felt all over the field, and Lions head coach Dan Campbell was pleased with what he saw.
“I thought he did some good things for us,” Campbell said. “It was great to have him out there. He’s a guy who’s instinctive, doesn’t stay blocked for long, and has great technique with his hands.
He can set the edge in the run game, and he’s very effective at working with our defensive linemen like Alim McNeill and D.J. Reader.
He has a natural ability to collaborate on those plays. Overall, for his first outing, I thought it was a good fit. He fits right in with us.”
The Lions brought in the 32-year-old Smith to help mitigate the loss of Aidan Hutchinson, who was sidelined for the season with a broken leg.
Smith’s veteran experience was a valuable addition, providing Detroit with a reliable pass rusher capable of winning one-on-one battles, stopping the run, and lining up in various positions.
For instance, during the sack, Smith stood up over the interior offensive line, showcasing his versatility.
While Smith’s addition won’t turn the Lions’ defense into an unstoppable force, it fills a critical need for depth and playmaking ability at key moments.
Detroit’s defense is already strong in the back end, thanks to dynamic safeties like Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. What they needed was a consistent threat up front.
In his debut, Smith demonstrated enough to suggest he could be a game-changer for the Lions moving forward.