Za’Darius Smith had to apologize.
On Tuesday morning, hours before the NFL trade deadline, Smith posted a cryptic message on social media that made some hearts sink. Detroit Lions fans are eagerly awaiting their team to acquire Smith in a trade with the Cleveland Browns.
“SMH,” Smith wrote on X, before deleting the post a few minutes later.
Less than an hour later, the exchange was over.
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“It was taking too long,” Smith said of the post Friday. “Obviously, after that, it’s done. I deleted it, man. Sorry to the fans who thought otherwise, but, yeah, like I said, happy to be here, man. And happy to being with this football team.”
Smith participated in his first Lions practice Friday after head coach Dan Campbell gave him two days to get his affairs in order, and the veteran passer said he hopes to make his debut Sunday when the Lions will face the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.
Smith had five sacks in nine games with the Browns, while the Lions (7-1) have struggled to generate a consistent pass rush in the three games since losing Aidan Hutchinson to a broken leg. .
“He’s tough, he’s violent and he’s got a motor, and then we’re not even talking about potentially (playing) outside or inside, being on the edge in the pass rush and just d “Help, whether it’s a straight run or a run to matches,” Campbell said. “So I just think he’ll be perfect for us.”
Smith said Browns general manager Andrew Berry first approached him about a possible trade with the Lions last month after Hutchinson’s injury and the two sides had spent the past two weeks to finalize the agreement.
When Berry called Tuesday to say the trade was complete, Smith said he was “happy.”
“I got a phone call from the general manager in Cleveland, man, and he was just like, ‘Z, we did it for you,'” Smith said. “And I was like, ‘We made it? So we’re going to Detroit?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, you’re going to Detroit.’ So thank them, man, for having me for two years – well, a year and a half – and trading me here for a chance to do something great.”
Campbell said the Lions are still trying to decide whether Smith will play Sunday and, if he does, in what role.
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The Lions excused Smith from practice Wednesday and Thursday because it was supposed to be his bye week with the Browns. Smith said he returned to Florida to check on his home and properties, which had been damaged by recent hurricanes. He said he lost a few shingles on his house and his truck suffered water damage, but was otherwise fine.
“You just got traded, it’s a whirlwind. All of a sudden I was here, we were getting ready for the team photo, I was going bye and now all of a sudden I drive here to Detroit and oh that way.” Along the way there was a hurricane that hit the south, where my house is,” Campbell said. “There are these things and I think it creates some stress that you can alleviate. It’s more important than forcing the issue right now. And I would rather he be of sound body and mind for the rest of this long term rather than trying to force the issue now.
Smith said he is ready to help the Lions in the long run.
He will wear the same number 99 he had with the Browns; he said he paid several thousand to get Brodric Martin’s number.
“I’m not going to tell you the exact price, but he’ll definitely have a lot of money. Put gas in his car,” he said.
And he said there was no pressure for Hutchinson, just a great opportunity to help the Lions win.
“I’m going to be Z,” he said. “Come here and be myself, man. An energetic guy, man. Help the younger guys. …Being with great guys and a good group, it’s big, man. Actually, I just got lucky to practice today and, man, the things we do in practice, I understand why this football team is so dominant Yes sir.
Dave Birkett will be signing copies of his new book, “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline” at noon central time Sunday at Loft 18 in Houston and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Victory in Northville.
Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article was originally published on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions DE Za’Darius Smith eager to play Sunday after trade
