After electing to un-retire, former Detroit Lions edge rusher and three-time Pro Bowler Za’Darius Smith is eying a potential comeback. Smith reportedly worked out for the Cleveland Browns on Thursday after playing just five games with the Philadelphia Eagles last season.
Smith, who turns 34 in early September, previously played for the Browns in 2023 and 2024. In his first year with the team, he registered 5.5 sacks to help Cleveland make the postseason and recorded five sacks in nine games in 2024 before Detroit acquired the former Kentucky Wildcat in their playoff push.
Smith recorded 12 total tackles (seven solo, five assisted), along with four sacks, three stuffs, and one pass defended in his eight games in the Honolulu Blue and Silver.
Free agent pass-rusher Za’Darius Smith, who recently un-retired with the possibility of playing, worked out for the #Browns today. pic.twitter.com/l3A4lcFAp8
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 13, 2026
A fourth-round pick by Baltimore back in 2015, Smith has appeared in 145 games with 98 starts for the Ravens, Packers, Vikings, Browns, Lions, and Eagles.
With the Browns shipping off All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in a blockbuster offseason trade, Cleveland has been looking for veteran edge rusher help alongside newly-acquired Jared Verse and starter Alex Wright.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Former Detroit Lions DE works out for Browns