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It didn't take long for veteran edge rusher Za'Darius Smith to make an impact with the Detroit Lions. The 32-year-old notched a sack on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones in the Week 11 game on Sunday.
The play came in the fourth quarter after the game was well in hand, with the Lions leading 49-6. Jones dropped back to pass and Smith, who was actually lined up inside, broke through Jacksonville's offensive line to get the sack.
With that sack, Smith now has six on the season, which surpasses the 5.5 he totaled all of last last season. Making the sack even better, Smith's celebration was excellent.
Debuting in style @zadariussmith#JAXvsDET | 📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/aHpOtFzOn6
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 17, 2024The Lions acquired Smith just ahead of the trade deadline after losing both Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport to season-ending injuries. He's under contract for 2025, also, so he won't be a short-term rental, assuming everything goes well.
The veteran didn't make his debut last week, with head coach Dan Campbell wanting to give him the week off because he didn't get a bye week with the Cleveland Browns, who traded him during theirs.
"Man, very excited," Smith said of his impending Lions debut. "I was just talking to coach, I can't wait. I hate that he gave me this week off. Obviously, I didn't want it. That's something that they wanted for their players, and that's what I love about this football team, because they care about their players. And, actually, he was a player, so he understands what's going on."
"I wanted to (play), I did, but obviously he wanted me to take the week off because it was a bye and I haven't had one," Smith added, before noting that he appreciated the time off because it also allowed him to check on his home in Florida in the wake of the recent hurricane.
Smith has wasted no time ingratiating himself to Lions fans, and that sack definitely helped.
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