Za'Darius Smith Hints at NFL Return, But Don’t Expect the Eagles to Help Him Get There
Za'Darius Smith walked away from the game just five weeks into the season, leaving the Eagles short-handed and searching for answers along the edge. Now, with Micah Parsons reportedly sidelined for the year, Smith is making noise again - this time with a not-so-subtle social media post that suggests he might be ready to lace up the cleats once more.
The timing? Let’s just say it didn’t go unnoticed.
Shortly after Parsons was helped off the field, Smith - who hadn’t posted on X since September - dropped the classic 👀 emoji. No caption.
No context. Just enough to stir the pot and get people talking.
And given that Smith isn’t exactly active on social media, the message seemed pretty clear: he sees an opportunity and might want back in.
But here’s the thing - the Eagles don’t owe him anything.
Smith’s short stint in Philly was, at best, underwhelming and, at worst, abrupt. After logging just 17 snaps in what turned out to be his final game - a season-low against the Giants - he called it quits.
No farewell tour. No public explanation.
Just a surprising early exit from a team that had taken a chance on him.
In five games (two starts), Smith posted 10 total tackles (three solo), 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hits, and two tackles for loss. He never played more than 50% of the defensive snaps in any game, topping out at 36 snaps.
Still, his Pro Football Focus grade of 77.7 and 10 pressures showed he wasn’t washed - he just wasn’t a fit in Vic Fangio’s scheme or rotation. With Nakobe Dean on the verge of returning from injury, Smith’s role was only going to shrink further.
That’s likely what led to his decision to walk away. It’s understandable - a veteran edge rusher with Pro Bowl pedigree doesn’t want to be a rotational piece, especially not in a defense where he’s clearly not featured.
But the way he exited - midseason, with little warning - left the Eagles in a tough spot. And now, just weeks later, he’s hinting at a comeback?
It’s hard to imagine Philly doing him any favors.
Releasing Smith would allow him to sign elsewhere - potentially with a direct competitor. And with the Cowboys now in desperate need of pass-rushing help after losing Parsons, the dots aren’t hard to connect. But from the Eagles’ perspective, helping a rival plug a massive hole on defense just doesn’t make sense - especially not for a player who left them high and dry.
Yes, Smith still has something left in the tank. His tape - limited as it was this year - showed flashes of the disruptive force he’s been throughout his career.
But if he’s hoping for a playoff run with another contender, he’ll have to wait and see if the Eagles are willing to open that door. Based on how things ended, that seems unlikely.
In the NFL, timing is everything. And while Smith’s emoji might’ve been well-timed from a marketing standpoint, it probably wasn’t enough to erase the way he left things in Philadelphia.