For a while, Lions fans could only daydream about Calvin Johnson or Barry Sanders making a comeback. Now, the un-retirement chatter in the NFL has shifted to a different kind of star, and it has Detroit thinking about a possible fix for a roster need.
The buzz right now centers on Aaron Donald, with Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report pointing to what feels like an eventual return to the Los Angeles Rams for the 2026 season. Knox expanded the conversation by naming five other retired players who could be worth watching, and one of them is a name Lions fans know well: edge rusher Za'Darius Smith.
Smith retired in the middle of last season after playing five games for the Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia later released him from the reserve/retired list in June, which only added fuel to the idea that he may be considering a return.
That possibility naturally brings Detroit back into the picture. The Lions traded for Smith from the Cleveland Browns at the 2024 deadline after Aidan Hutchinson suffered a season-ending broken leg. Smith gave them exactly what they needed, posting four sacks and 40 pressures in eight games as a Lion and stepping in as a useful replacement for Hutchinson.
A reunion looked easy to imagine, especially with Hutchinson healthy again in 2025. But Smith was waived early in the offseason, largely because of the structure of his Browns contract and the teams apparently not being able to work out a restructure.
The idea of Smith returning on a more manageable deal hung around for a while, but he ended up signing with Philadelphia just before last season. In 131 defensive snaps for the Eagles before he retired, he recorded 1.5 sacks and five pressures.
Even now, Smith still profiles as a useful pass rusher and a dependable run defender. Detroit does not need him to play every snap. What the Lions could use is another rotational edge who can help keep the pass rush steady and reduce any drop-off if Hutchinson needs a little extra rest.
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Dan Campbells latest comments only added to the sense that the Lions are making a major line adjustment with real confidence behind it. Sewell has prior experience on the left side, and Campbell made clear he expects the transition to go smoothly, a notable vote of trust for a player whose rsum already puts him in rare company. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Still Have One Obvious Pass Rush Move Before Camp
The Lions head into camp with much of their defensive core back in place, but the edge group still looks like a spot where one more proven piece could help. Detroit already moved on from Al-Quadin Muhammad and used a high draft pick on Derrick Moore, signaling that it wants more juice and depth around Aidan Hutchinson as it builds out the front seven for 2026.
A veteran like Jadeveon Clowney would fit that conversation neatly because he has spent 12 years finding ways to stay useful for different teams, and he just turned in a productive season in Dallas. For a defense trying to keep its pass rush steady over a long year, the question is less about whether there is room for another edge and more about whether the Lions want to turn that obvious opportunity into a move before camp opens. [Read more 🡒]