The Detroit Lions made a big and unsurprising splash at the trade deadline by bringing in edge rusher Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns to ease the pain of losing superstar Aidan Hutchinson, who broke his leg earlier in the season and is out for the year.
Hutchinson’s impact is impossible to replicate, but Smith is a perfect option to take his place.
Ahead of his team debut, he made sure to dress the part on Sunday.
WXYZ Detroit’s Brad Galli shared a video of Smith pulling up to the stadium wearing a Rasheed Wallace Detroit Pistons jersey.
Fans can only hope he’ll play for the Lions just as Sheed did for the Pistons and lead the team to new heights by providing plenty of attitude and physicality.
Za’Darius Smith wore a Rasheed Wallace Pistons jersey to his Lions debut in Detroit.
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) November 17, 2024
Smith has five sacks through nine games so far after posting just 5.5 total in 16 games last year and will have every opportunity to feast in Hutchinson’s role.
He is also in a contract year at 32 years old, so he has a financial incentive to come to the Lions and ball out to land one last big contract in the offseason.
Hutch had 7.5 sacks on the season before breaking his leg, defensive tackle Alim McNeill has 3.5, and no other Lion has more than two in the year.
This team needs Smith’s services, and even though he has massive shoes to fill, this team is a well-oiled machine, and he simply has to come in and be himself.
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Analyst Promotes 1 Lineman For Offensive Player Of The Year
