The Detroit Lions appear to have officially moved on from the idea of a reunion with former pass rusher Za\u2019Darius Smith.<\/p>\n
During a Wednesday appearance on 97.1 The Ticket\u2019s Costa and Jansen, Lions coach Dan Campbell discussed the team\u2019s approach to addressing edge rusher depth and explained why they didn\u2019t bring Smith back.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re good right now, we are pretty good here,\u201d Campbell said. \u201cWe got (Marcus) Davenport, we got good depth. I like what we got interior too. We got a lot of flexibility, and we\u2019re sitting pretty good right now. So we\u2019re ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes have praised Davenport after a strong training camp showing, and the team clearly believes he can be a difference-maker opposite Aidan Hutchinson. <\/p>\n
Still, with Davenport limited to just six games over the past two seasons due to injuries, questions lingered about his long-term durability. That led to speculation Detroit might look to bring back Smith as part of the rotation, pairing him with Hutchinson for what could have been a dangerous duo off the edge.<\/p>\n
Holmes struck a different tone last week, saying communication with Smith had cooled. <\/p>\n
While he didn\u2019t rule anything out, he emphasized that the team\u2019s lone open roster spot wasn\u2019t set aside for the veteran. \u201cYou guys know me, anything is a possibility at any point,\u201d Holmes said. \u201cI don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen, but the one open roster spot, we just have one open spot. It\u2019s not for a specific player; it\u2019s for the player that makes the most sense for us, whoever that player may be.\u201d <\/p>\n
He later added \u201cnot recently\u201d when asked if there had been active talks with Smith.<\/p>\n
The Lions acquired Smith from the Cleveland Browns ahead of last year\u2019s trade deadline, and he proved to be a solid addition. He recorded 12 tackles, including three for loss, along with 10 quarterback hits, four sacks and one pass defended in eight games with Detroit.<\/p>\n
But the veteran pass rusher became a cap casualty in the offseason, leading to his release as part of a cost-cutting move.<\/p>\n
Heading into Week 1 against the Packers, the Lions\u2019 edge rusher rotation will consist of Hutchinson and Davenport as starters, with Al-Quadin Muhammad and Tyrus Wheat — claimed off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys — providing depth.<\/p>\n
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