Za’Darius Smith was inactive for his first game with the Detroit Lions, a Sunday night clash against Houston. Still, he made his presence felt on the sideline.
Wearing a black Lions windbreaker and team-issued shorts, Smith was repeatedly shown standing with the defensive line, holding a Windows tablet and offering guidance. Drawing from his 10 NFL seasons, he shared his expertise with his teammates.
The Lions secured a 26-23 victory, capped by Jake Bates’ game-winning field goal. After trailing 23-7 at halftime, Detroit’s defense shut out Houston in the second half.
Smith wasn’t injured but was granted personal time off as his previous team had a bye week. After practicing Friday, he confirmed he’d return to full action when practice resumed Wednesday.
Despite limited practice, the veteran was eager to play. During NBC’s postgame show, Smith expressed his excitement about joining the Lions’ defense.
“I can’t wait. I hate that he gave me this week off. I didn’t want it,” Smith said with a smile. “But that’s what I love about this team—they care about their players. Coach understands because he was a player, too.”
Smith appreciated the time to recover before Detroit’s stretch run. With eight games ahead, he has ample opportunity to make an impact.
“He gave me time because I hadn’t had a bye,” Smith explained. “I live in Florida, and with the hurricane, I couldn’t check on my house. Coach gave me two days to go home—that’s love, man.”
As the Lions’ most-experienced defensive player, Smith is poised to mentor younger teammates. Only Kevin Zeitler and Allen Robinson have logged more NFL seasons on the roster.
Sunday provided Smith the chance to guide his teammates. He advised them to listen for Houston’s protection calls to anticipate plays.
In his postgame interview, Smith hinted at what Lions fans can expect from him on the field.
“A lot of sacks, man. A lot of pressures and getting after the quarterback,” he said. “You saw me coaching up the young guys. There’s more of that coming soon.”
Although Smith didn’t suit up Sunday, he plans to be a key contributor as Detroit pursues its Super Bowl goals. He made it clear he’s ready to give his all.
“I’ll be back next week. I can’t wait,” Smith said. “This is a great football team, and I promise to give it my all.”
