Lions fans will have to wait a week to see the debut of new edge rusher Za’Darius Smith. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Smith, who was acquired by the Lions on Tuesday just before the trade deadline, will not play Sunday night against the Houston Texans.

Newly acquired pass rusher Za'Darius Smith practiced for the first time with the Detroit Lions on Friday, and the veteran hopes to make an impact on what he called a "dominant" football team.

“The Lions and Browns have discussed a potential trade for defensive end Za’Darius Smith. At this point, the expectation is that it’ll be more than talk. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the current expectation is that Smith will be traded to Detroit tonight or tomorrow.” – Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk

The Lions are doing what they can to fill that Aidan Hutchinson-sized hole in their defense for their Super Bowl push.

Checking in with Detroit Lions fans for our latest SB Nation Reacts survey: What are your expectations for Za’Darius Smith’s Lions debut?

The Detroit Lions opted to sit veteran edge rusher Za'Darius Smith last week, even though he was ready to play. Head coach Dan Campbell explained the thought process behind that and revealed that Smith will make his debut in Week 11.

The Detroit Lions are bolstering their pass rush by acquiring one of the top targets available at the trade deadline. Detroit completed a trade with the Cleveland Browns to get Za’Darius Smith and a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2025 and a sixth-round pick in 2026.