Eagles Sign Za'Darius Smith After Ben VanSumeren Suffers Season-Ending Injury

The Philadelphia Eagles announced Friday that they signed veteran pass rusher Za'Darius Smith to a one-year contract and placed fullback Ben VanSumeren on injured reserve after VanSumeren suffered a torn patella on the opening kickoff of Thursday night's game, a move that will sideline him for the remainder of the season.

Smith, 32, spent the 2024 season split between the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions, recording nine sacks and 35 total tackles across both clubs. He was released by the Lions in March and had not signed with a team during the preseason before agreeing to terms with the Eagles.

Philadelphia made the roster change official as part of its early-week transactions. To create room for Smith on the active roster, the team placed VanSumeren on injured reserve after he was helped off the field following the kickoff injury. The Eagles described the injury as a torn patella; the team’s decision to place VanSumeren on IR indicates he will be unavailable for the remainder of the season.

Smith's addition adds a veteran pass-rushing option to the Eagles' defensive front. The 32-year-old has a history of producing sacks and has played for multiple NFL teams over his career. His 2024 numbers — nine sacks and 35 tackles — came while splitting the season between Cleveland and Detroit following a midseason move.

VanSumeren, a fullback who had been active on special teams and in short-yardage packages, sustained the injury on the game's first kickoff. He was attended to on the field and escorted off after the medical evaluation. The Eagles did not provide an extended comment beyond the roster transaction and the injury designation.

The move comes as the defending Super Bowl champions look to maintain depth and experience on a roster competing in a demanding NFC field. Adding Smith provides another option for the Eagles' pass-rush rotation and special-teams plans, while VanSumeren's absence will require adjustments in the team's short-yardage and blocking schemes.

The team must now determine how to replace VanSumeren's specific role on offense and special teams for the rest of the season, while integrating Smith into the defensive package. Further roster moves and practice-designation updates are expected as the Eagles continue preparations for their next game.