Za'Darius Smith might not like the Green Bay Packers, but he's just boosted their NFC chances considerably.
Smith turned his NFL career into a Packers revenge tour after a messy breakup in Titletown three years ago. He spent time with the rival Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions before joining the Philadelphia Eagles this summer.
But after an effective five-game stint in Philly, Smith has surprisingly called it a career. The Pro Bowl pass-rusher dropped a retirement announcement out of nowhere, and his departure could create a seismic shift in the NFC.
Za'Darius Smith's shock retirement leaves Eagles reeling and opens door for Packers
The Packers got back on track with victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, but the Eagles are reeling after a surprising loss to the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football. It followed a defeat to the Denver Broncos four days earlier.
Smith's exit adds further misery for the Super Bowl champs, with Anthony Miller of Inside the Iggles describing his retirement as a "crushing blow."
"With that being said, this is a disaster waiting to happen for the Eagles," writes Miller. "With Nolan Smith Jr. and Ogbo Okoronkwo on IR, this leaves the Eagles with just Josh Uche, Jalyx Hunt, Patrick Johnson, and Azeez Ojulari as the only active edge rushers."
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Smith had produced 1.5 sacks in five games, while earning Philly's fourth-best PFF pass-rushing grade. He generated 10 pressures and two hits, impressive numbers considering he played one fewer game than his teammates.
It leaves the Eagles with a pass-rush void, and one the Packers can take advantage of.
Green Bay currently holds the No. 2 seed with a narrow NFC North lead. It faces tough competition from the Lions, the conference-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and, of course, the Eagles. Green Bay hosts Philadelphia in Week 10, a crucial showdown for playoff positioning.
The Eagles may need to make calls to find a replacement, but they're in a tough spot. Two straight losses and now a key pass-rusher retiring leaves them reeling with the Minnesota Vikings on deck in Week 7.
It pushes the door ajar for the Packers to strengthen their grip on one of the NFC's top seeds.