The Philadelphia Eagles have officially removed veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith from the reserve/retired list, sources confirm — a move that has suddenly reignited speculation about a potential return to the league. The transaction, which appeared on the NFL’s daily transaction report, now makes the 33-year-old pass rusher a free agent, eligible to sign with any team if he decides to end his abrupt retirement.
Insiders say the move caught many off guard, raising questions about whether Smith is quietly testing the waters for a comeback. One league source told us, “There’s definitely chatter behind the scenes. Nobody just gets taken off that list without someone poking around.” Another insider close to the situation claimed Smith has been training in Atlanta and has been “in better shape than when he walked away.”
Smith’s Sudden Disappearance Left the League Buzzing
Smith stepped away from football without warning last October, stunning teammates and coaches in Philadelphia. Before retiring, he suited up for just five games with the Eagles in 2025, tallying 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks — a far cry from the dominant pass rusher who once terrorized quarterbacks for the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings.
According to reports, the Eagles had hoped Smith would provide a veteran presence off the edge after signing him on a one-year deal just before the season. But his abrupt departure reportedly left the locker room “confused,” with one unnamed player describing it as, “the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen in this league.”
The Bumpy Road That Led Him Here
Smith’s NFL journey reads like a wild ride through free agency and trade drama. The Baltimore Ravens drafted him in the fourth round of the 2015 draft. After four solid seasons in Baltimore, he cashed in with a massive four-year, $66 million deal with Green Bay in 2019, where he racked up 26 sacks over three seasons.
Then the drama started. Green Bay cut him before the 2021 season when he was due a $14.5 million base salary. He initially agreed to a four-year, $35 million return to the Ravens — only to back out at the last minute. Instead, he signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Vikings. Minnesota later traded him to Cleveland, where he picked up a two-year, $23.5 million contract. The Browns then shipped him to Detroit along with a 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2025 fifth-rounder and a 2026 sixth-round selection. The Lions released him before the final year of his deal, leading to his brief, mysterious stint in Philadelphia.
Now, with his name back on the transaction wire, speculation is rampant. Could a playoff contender take a flier? Is Smith eyeing a reunion with a former team? One NFC executive reportedly said, “If he’s serious, teams will line up. The guy can still get to the quarterback when he wants to.”
In other Eagles roster moves, the team reportedly waived linebackers Isiah King and Chandler Martin and signed guard Michael Jordan to a new contract — but all eyes are on the Smith saga, and whether this is just paperwork or the beginning of a stunning comeback nobody saw coming.
Leave a Comment