After acquiring him from the Cleveland Browns at the trade deadline, the Detroit Lions gave Za'Darius Smith a week off since the Browns had their bye in Week 10. So his team debut waited until Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the prospect of a somewhat limited workload seemed natural.
Smith wound up playing 37 defensive snaps against the Jaguars, good for a personal season-high 77 percent snap share. Pro Football Focus credited him with three quarterback pressures and two hurries as he combined with linebacker Jack Campbell for a sack of Mac Jones. PFF gave him a 72.5 pass rushing grade for the game, and an overall grade of 64.9.
Smith also had a fantastic, multi-faceted celebration of his (partial) sack.
Debuting in style @zadariussmith#JAXvsDET | 📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/aHpOtFzOn6
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 17, 2024
Za'Darius Smith immediately proved his fit in Lions' debut
Head coach Dan Campbell was asked about Smith's Lions' debut on Monday.
"Yeah, I thought he did some good things for us, it was good to have him out there. Really, like we talked about last week, just be a piece of this puzzle. He’s a guy that’s played, he is instinctive, he doesn’t stay blocked long, he’s really good with his hands, like I said, he’s can set an edge in the run game, he’s really good at working games with (Alim McNeill) and (D.J. Reader) and those guys, he’s just got a knack for those things. So I think, first outing with him, man, I thought it was good. I think he fits right in with us.”
"He’s a guy that’s played, he is instinctive, he doesn’t stay blocked long, he’s really good with his hands, like I said, he’s can set an edge in the run game, he’s really good at working games with (Alim McNeill) and (D.J. Reader) and those guys, he’s just got a knack for those things. So I think, first outing with him, man, I thought it was good. I think he fits right in with us.”
As noted in video form below by Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit, Smith was used in multiple spots during his Lions' debut. PFF had him with least one snap at nearly every spot possible across the defensive front, which highlights the versatility he brings to the table and the Lions clearly coveted if they were going to add some at the trade deadline.
Lions already playing around with ways they can use Za'Darius Smith.
— Jeremy Reisman (@DetroitOnLion) November 19, 2024
And if he doesn't get held on this play, Mac Jones probably picks up nothing. (it was still a third down stop) pic.twitter.com/HA4B479K8t
Za'Darius Smith was pretty effective, all things considered. JAX typically got the ball out relatively quick.
— Jeremy Reisman (@DetroitOnLion) November 19, 2024
But I think there's so much more to come, because it's clear he's still learning the defense and his teammates' tendencies.
Just watch him pre-snap. pic.twitter.com/WPqjPdKR4P
Smith has had to learn new teammates and a new defensive scheme. Neither of those things is foreign to him in a broad sense, but this is the first time he has had to do it in the middle of a season after being moved at the trade deadline, which is a unique challenge.
The Lions honed in on and traded for Smith because they felt he would be a good fit. It took him one game to completely prove them right.