WATCH: Detroit Lions new EDGE Za’Darius Smith showed up to Ford Field sporting a Rasheed Wallace jersey.
After a trip to the NFC Championship game last year, where the Detroit Lions ended coming up just short of their first ever trip to the Super Bowl, the team adopted a new mantra: “It takes more.” The season-ending injury suffered by Aidan Hutchinson in Week 6 punctuated a slew of injuries Detroit had incurred along their defensive line and meant it would take more from the team’s depth and coaching staff to keep the pressure on opposing offenses.
Either that or it would take some more work from general manager Brad Holmes to make a few phone calls.
The trade deadline acquisition of Za’Darius Smith by the Detroit Lions was a move everyone and their mother was expecting to happen, but when it finally did, the growing concerns about the defense’s lack of pass rush were put on the back burner. The Lions had added their missing piece in their quest for a championship, much like another Detroit team did 20 years ago.
On February 19, 2004, the Detroit Pistons traded for veteran power forward Rasheed Wallace. After losing to the New Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference Finals in the previous year, the move to add Wallace ultimately helped the Pistons get over the hump and win their franchise’s third NBA title.
Despite it hovering around 50 degrees prior to game time, Smith showed up to his Lions debut in a Wallace jersey as he entered the stadium, full of smiles and enthusiasm that has already endeared him to this city—and seemingly embracing his role as the team’s “missing piece” to a championship.
Oh let’s goooooo@DetroitPistons @zadariussmith pic.twitter.com/j5Le6NX1eX
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 17, 2024
Since Smith has arrived to Detroit, the intangibles of the veteran defender have been on full display. During last week’s game against the Houston Texans, Smith was visible on the sidelines, coaching up players with a tablet in hand. During the postgame coverage of the same game, Smith voiced his appreciation for Dan Campbell honoring the veteran defender’s bye week even though he was adamant he wanted to be out there on the field.
Today’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars is Smith’s 133rd career NFL game. He enters today’s contest with 65.0 career sacks, 82 tackles for loss, and 165 quarterback hits.
