When the Philadelphia Eagles signed veteran pass rusher Za’Darius Smith a day after their Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys, Eagles fans were shocked and also excited.
Throughout the offseason, the veteran pass rusher was never mentioned as a potential option for the Eagles. But based on what the team saw from the defensive unit, it was clear that they needed a veteran off the edge.
Smith immediately made an impact, as he recorded four combined tackles, a tackle for loss, a quarterback hit, and a half sack in the Eagles’ Week 2 win against the Chiefs. It was exactly what the Eagles needed. And as you can imagine, fans were happy with the addition.
However, fast forward two weeks, and Smith hasn’t registered a sack or quarterback pressure, prompting questions about what kind of player Philadelphia actually got with his addition.
Za’Darius Smith Going Through Dry Spell After Fast Start in Week 2
Smith played 36 defensive snaps against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4 but only had two combined tackles. He had a moment late in the fourth quarter where he got close to Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield, yet couldn’t get to him. Mayfield somehow escaped through the pass rush and ran for a first down. Luckily, that didn’t come back to haunt the Eagles.
With Nolan Smith Jr. and now Ogbo Okoronkwo banged up, the Eagles need Smith to help lead this unit. Eagles fans aren’t out on Smith or the other pass rushers yet, as they hope that the sacks will eventually come. But losing Smith Jr. wasn’t ideal, as this team was struggling to bring down the opposing team’s QB.
That said, one thing Eagles fans can hold their head up about is that Smith's a veteran, and the more he gets familiar with the playbook, the better days should be ahead. We’ve seen Philly get pressure throughout the first month, they just haven’t finished the job by getting a sack.
The Smith signing was supposed to help with that, and it did against KC in Week 2. However, it hasn’t paid off over the last two games. A bounceback this Sunday against the Denver Broncos' stout offensive line won't be easy, but performing against top competition is exactly why Philly sought out the talented disruptor in the first place.