How Have Injuries and a Retirement Shaken the Eagles Defensive Core?
Za’Darius Smith, a veteran defensive end who played for the Eagles, suddenly retired Monday morning after two consecutive losses with Philadelphia. Throughout 11 seasons and 145 games of his career, he’s registered 343 tackles and 70.5 sacks. He signed with the Eagles after they beat the Cowboys in Week One and had become a huge part of the pass-rush. With the absence of Nolan Smith due to a triceps injury, Za’Darius Smith was a key contributor on the line. The Eagles have already been struggling to pressure quarterbacks, so what does this sudden retirement mean for the defense moving forward?
After being upset by the Broncos in Week Five and an embarrassing loss to the Giants in Week Six, there’s no argument that the Eagles' defense has been struggling to stop teams from pushing them around. While a majority of Philly’s inconsistency stems from the offensive side of the ball, the loss of Smith only makes matters worse for a team that seems to be falling apart. Over his five games with the Eagles this season, he has secured 1.5 sacks and three QB hits, providing a young defense with a much-needed veteran presence. Now, without him, the Eagles are left scrambling to find a reliable option to rotate in on the edge, all while the offense continues to sputter, trying to regain the momentum they left in Week Four.
A once-promising defense has been completely reshaped by the injuries the Birds are facing in the 2025 campaign. Jalen Carter was out last game, Nolan Smith is still on injured reserve, and Quinyon Mitchell is listed as questionable—losing three ideal starters would force Jordan Davis to anchor the interior while less experienced players like Moro Ojomo and Byron Young could be pushed into extended roles. Ojomo has two sacks on the season, but with defensive depth thinning out fast, the cracks seem to be widening. One player’s retirement can not break a team, but it certainly adds to the glaring weaknesses opponents are already starting to exploit.
Looking ahead, Philadelphia’s defensive success now hinges not only on health but on whether a young core can grow up fast enough to help steady the unit. Nakobe Dean is returning from his patellar tear, and along with teammates like Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, he represents the foundation of a defense that runs on leadership and accountability. When you factor in the veteran leadership of Zack Baun—balanced in the secondary by Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship—this retirement isn’t a death sentence. Instead, the coaching staff should likely lean on player development rather than star power to stay competitive over the next stretch of the schedule. Nolan Smith is looking to return in Week Ten, and if the young secondary can continue to progress while the front line generates pressure through synergy, the defense could hold out or stabilize by then. However, if they perpetuate the current trends, missed assignments, inconsistent pressure, and weak coverage, Philadelphia could be looking at a long season defined mostly by survival.
