Will Za’Darius Smith play in Week 11? Latest update on Lions edge rusher workload

The Detroit Lions continue to find ways to win as the team is 8-1 and has won seven straight after a 1-1 start. Dan Campbell’s squad came off a scrappy come-from-behind win over the Houston Texans in Week 10 and heads home to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11.

Although the Lions already have one of the deepest rosters in football, the team is getting some much-needed help on the defensive line. Detroit made a grand deal for edge rusher Za’Darius Smith during the Nov. 5 trade deadline. Season-ending injuries to Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport have decimated the Lions’ edge rusher group, so the acquisition of Smith couldn’t have come at a better time.

Smith was inactive in Week 10 versus the Texanslike Campbell chose to give the veteran a week off to let his body rest. But Smith is set to make his Lions debut on Sunday against the Jaguars, and Campbell revealed what the Pro Bowler’s role could look like in Week 11.

Is Za’Darius Smith playing this week?

During Friday’s press conference, Campbell said Smith will play against the Jaguars but will still have some limitations.

“Yeah, we’re going to work on him, we’re going to make sure we’re using him correctly,” Campbell told reporters Friday. “Look, he’s going to play every down, but we’re going to maximize what he has in the tank to help us. I think if you — pitch count, yeah, somewhere in there we’ll get him some.”

Smith will have a ton of pressure on him as the Lions’ pass rush has struggled to generate pressure without blowing since Aidan Hutchinson went down with a serious knee injury during the team’s Week 6 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. While many will expect elite production from Smith, Campbell said he doesn’t expect the 32-year-old to post Hutchinson-esque sack numbers, but believes Smith’s impact on Aaron Glenn’s defense will be evident.

“So would I love to see six sacks? Yeah, absolutely, but no, don’t come out of this game saying, ‘Well, he didn’t get six sacks. I mean, what are we doing?’ He’s going to help us and that will be clear, it was good to see him yesterday, he’s going to help us at the big time,” Campbell added.

Smith won’t play a majority of the snaps on Sunday, but the three-time Pro Bowler’s snap count will increase each game, and it’s clear Campbell is ecstatic to watch his new quarterback wreak havoc and play winning football in the Motor City.