Eagles DC Vic Fangio Sends Strong Message on Surprising Za’Darius Smith Retirement
The Philadelphia Eagles have had a lot of things go wrong for them over the past couple of weeks. After starting the season with four straight wins, the Eagles have suffered back-to-back losses to the Denver Broncos and New York Giants, the latter of which is particularly concerning, considering how they had only one win to their name before taking down Philly.
Injuries have also begun to pile up, and if that wasn’t bad enough, veteran defensive lineman Za’Darius Smith abruptly retired from the NFL on Monday. That has forced the Eagles to scramble even more when piecing things together on the defensive side of the ball, and on Tuesday, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio opened up on Smith’s decision to call it a career.
Vic Fangio Addresses Za’Darius Smith’s Retirement
From the start of the season, the Eagles‘ front seven on defense has been beat up. Nakobe Dean missed the start of the season while recovering from a torn patellar tendon, and while he’s back now, Nolan Smith Jr. is recovering from a triceps injury he reaggravated, and Ogbo Okoronkwo is out for the year with his own triceps injury. Making matters worse, star defensive tackle Jalen Carter missed Philly’s Week 6 loss to New York due to a heel injury.
After Week 1, the Eagles signed Smith in free agency, and he was viewed as a guy who could come in and immediately fill in for some of these injured guys. Through five games, Smith had 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks, and prior to Week 6, it seemed like he had been finding his footing and getting himself back into football shape.
Instead, Smith’s role in the loss to the Giants was surprisingly small, and on Monday, he opted to call it a career. The move caught everyone off guard, including Fangio. On Tuesday, Fangio addressed the situation, saying that he wishes nothing but the best for Smith as he rides off into the sunset.
“No, I didn’t,” Fangio admitted when asked if he had any idea Smith was going to retire. “I was surprised when Howie (Roseman) came in and told me yesterday, but you always respect the guys’ decisions, personal decisions. The guy had a great career, did fine when he was here with us, he was good to be around, and wish him the best. That takes strength to do that, and I respect it. ”
Eagles Searching for D-Line Help in the Wake of Za’Darius Smith’s Retirement
With Smith gone, the Eagles‘ defensive line is in serious need of help, especially with Carter banged up. Moro Ojomo and Byron Young are the only other defensive ends on the active roster currently, and given Carter’s injury situation, you can bet that the front office will be looking to shore up this position in the coming days.
Philadelphia’s defensive line woes are suddenly a storyline worth keeping tabs on as the team rolls into Week 7, where it has a matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. After enjoying their bye week in Week 6, the Vikings are going to be rested and prepared for this game, although the Eagles have also had ample time to get ready for this one after playing on Thursday Night Football last week. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Jayden Daniels Opens Up About Luke McCaffrey’s Rise to Prominence
With Terry McLaurin's return in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears hanging in the balance, the Washington Commanders could be relying on Luke McCaffrey to provide a big-play threat once again. And based on how the wide receiver has performed in recent weeks, he'll be more than ready for the moment.
McCaffrey's silent resurgence this season is among the most significant positives to take from the first five games. The No. 100 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft has become more influential in the passing game. He's also among the league's most prolific kick returners to further raise his influence when the team needed him most.
Bringing in a deep ball from Jayden Daniels for a massive gain against the Los Angeles Chargers proved just how far he's come in a short space of time. It also showed that despite skepticism, his No. 1 quarterback trusts him completely.
Jayden Daniels credits Luke McCaffrey's work ethic for early-season breakout
Daniels lifted the lid on the secrets behind McCaffrey's breakout. His draft classmate believes the hard work put in during the offseason is paying off. The signal-caller also felt that his commitment to route enhancements and his willingness to think outside the box were yielding the desired results.
More definitive, getting in out his break, timing purposes also. He's been doing a great job of really honing on his own skills and getting better and finding different ways to get better. He also sees it through the eyes of a QB, so that's another good thing for him. And he puts in the work man, he put in the work this offseason, it's showing off, he's making big plays when we need him to.Jayden Daniels via Commanders.com
McCaffrey's influence is growing when most thought he would be on the fringes this season. Injuries have played a role, but the player's tireless commitment to progressing behind the scenes made sure he was ready when his time came.
It's also worth noting that McCaffrey is still in the process of learning the position. He played quarterback at Rice until his final two years of college, so this is only his fourth season playing the spot. He could only be scratching the surface of what he's capable of, and momentum is clearly on the wideout's side.
Professionalism. Purpose. Dedication. Those three words can best describe McCaffrey's rise to prominence. More importantly, he's gaining self-confidence and earning the trust of coaches and teammates alike. If he maintains these newfound standards, the second-year pro could emerge as an integral part of the team's long-term plans.
That's a win-win for everybody.
