The Philadelphia Eagles haven’t exactly been winning pretty, but they are still 4-0, making them one of only two undefeated teams alongside the Buffalo Bills. It’s clear, though, that the Eagles aren’t firing on all cylinders just yet, and one guy who the team would like to get going is veteran defensive end Za’Darius Smith.
After earning a tight victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1, Philadelphia signed Smith in the hopes that he could bolster their pass rush. Through three games, though, he’s been fairly quiet, and when asked about his performance, the three-time Pro Bowler admitted that he is still working on getting himself into football shape.
Za’Darius Smith Still Shaking Off the Rust for the Eagles
After a productive nine-sack campaign in 2025 with the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions, Smith spent the offseason on the free agent market waiting for the right opportunity to present itself to him. That came when the Eagles gave him a call, as he quickly latched on with the reigning Super Bowl champions in Week 2.
In three games, Smith has largely been eased back into the action, racking up just six tackles and 0.5 sacks to this point. His snap count increased quite drastically in the team’s Week 4 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it didn’t necessarily result in an uptick in production from him, which was a bit surprising.
Considering how he turned 33 years old last month, Smith is going to need some time to get going, even if he’s already seeing his role increase with the Eagles. When discussing his quiet start to his tenure with Philadelphia, Smith admitted that the first three games of the season have been more like training camp for him.
“It’s just getting back in football shape,” Smith admitted on Thursday. “These last three games been more like a training camp for me, just learning the defense and just getting back into football shape.”
Eagles Looking to Remain Perfect by Earning Fifth-Straight Win in Week 5
GettyPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback, Jalen Hurts, passing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second half on September 28, 2025.
History has shown that Smith will figure things out, and once he does, he could end up reestablishing himself as one of the top pass rushers on the team. Considering how the team is already dealing with injuries to guys like Nolan Smith Jr., Ogbo Okoronkwo, and Nakobe Dean in their defensive front, getting Smith going is crucial, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see his snap counts continue to increase on a weekly basis.
Smith will have a great opportunity to make a big impact for the Eagles against a tough Denver Broncos team in Week 5. With Bo Nix under center, the Broncos haven’t been great against the top teams in the league, which means this could be the perfect opportunity for Smith to wreak havoc on the second-year passer. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon, and if Smith can put together a big game, Philly will likely remain undefeated.
