The Detroit Lions made their long-rumored trade deadline move to acquire Za'Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday, but it looks like his debut will have to wait. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Smith is not expected to play Sunday night against the Houston Texans.
#Lions new pass-rusher Za’Darius Smith, who was acquired in a trade on Tuesday, is not expected to play for Detroit tonight, I’m told. Not quite ready.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 10, 2024
On Wednesday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell told reporters Smith was being given a couple days off before he'd report back to the team on Friday. That move was rooted in the Browns having their bye this week, and wanting to give the veteran a little rest. Campbell's words also invited the idea that Smith's Lions' debut might wait.
Smith revealed his appreciation for being given that time off during his first meeting with Lions' reporters. Apart from whatever rest for his body, the time away also allowed him to go to his house in Florida to survey damage from the recent hurricanes. Smith of course said he wanted to play Sunday night, in whatever capacity he could, but deferred to it being a "Dan (Campbell) question." Apparently, as least per Rapoport's sources, the head coach (probably with some input from elsewhere) has made the decision to sit Smith this week.
After Rapoport's original report overnight, ESPN's Adam Schefter has since reported the Lions are trying to figure out how to handle the situation with Smith.
"An oddity to the Za’Darius Smith situation: he was supposed to have his bye this weekend with the Browns, and the Lions already have had their bye weekend, so if he plays Sunday night vs. the Texans — and he is listed as questionable — it will be an 18-game season for him. Lions are trying to decide how to best handle the situation for a player acclimating to a new team and system."
Za'Darius Smith not expected to make his Lions' debut in Week 10
With only Friday's practice under his belt with his new team, Smith was listed as questionable on the final injury report for the week. So it was officially a literal coin-flip he would play on Sunday night, even if the easy assumption has been he would and it likely ended up being limited snaps in a new system.
It's not completely surprising Smith won't play on Sunday night, if Rapoport's initial report he's not expected to holds. It's just disappointing for all involved, but Smith should easily make his Lions' debut in Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.