Sports
Sports

Falcons add veteran help to bolster pass rush

The Falcons needed an edge rusher after losing Jalon Walker to a season-ending ACL tear.
Za'Darius Smith, 33, who played for the Eagles last season, is signing with the Falcons. (Adam Hunger/AP)

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

Za'Darius Smith, 33, who played for the Eagles last season, is signing with the Falcons. (Adam Hunger/AP)
By Daniel Flick
15 hours ago

FLOWERY BRANCH — The Falcons bolstered their pass rush Tuesday morning, signing three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Za’Darius Smith, according to a news release.

Smith, who turns 34 on Sept. 8, worked out for the Falcons on Monday. He played in five games with two starts for the Eagles last season before announcing his retirement in October 2025. In his abbreviated campaign, he recorded 10 tackles, 1½ sacks, two tackles for loss and three quarterback hits.

ExploreFalcons work out three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Za’Darius Smith

Smith has 70½ sacks and 87 tackles for loss in his career, which began in 2015 with the Ravens.

The Falcons needed an edge rusher after losing Jalon Walker to a season-ending ACL tear in practice Aug. 4, and the team will also be without James Pearce Jr., its sack leader from last season, for the first eight games because of a suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

About the Author

Daniel Flick covers the Falcons and NFL for the AJC. He previously covered the Falcons for Sports Illustrated and chronicled the Indiana Hoosiers’ fairy-tale run to the national championship in the 2025-26 season.

Follow Daniel Flick on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Baltimore Ravens defensive end Za'Darius Smith celebrates the Ravens score on a fumble in the end zone by the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Cleveland. (Ron Schwane/AP)

Credit: Ron Schwane

NFL

Falcons work out three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Za’Darius Smith

Veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith worked out for the Falcons on Monday.

NFL suspends Falcons' James Pearce Jr. for 8 games after his arrest in domestic dispute

The NFL has suspended Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. for the first eight games of the season.

NFL

Falcons’ James Pearce Jr. suspended 8 games for February arrest

Falcons' James Pearce Jr. has been suspended for the first 8 games of the regular season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, the league announced Friday.

The Latest

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett IV looks to throw during an NFL preseason football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo., Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (Reed Hoffmann/AP)

Credit: AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

BULLDOGS

Stetson Bennett’s role with Los Angeles Rams suddenly less certain

The Win Column: Matt vs. Freddie

WNBA

Shorthanded Dream suffer heartbreak in overtime loss to Fever

Featured

Sam Tunick, who is charged federally with destruction of property to prevent its seizure after authorities say he gave customs officials at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport a code that erased his phone's contents, poses for a photo at his lawyers' office in Atlanta on Thursday, July 30, 2026. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Credit: (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Customs asked for his phone passcode. Now he faces a felony.

Authorities say Sam Tunick gave Customs officers a passcode that deleted his phone’s contents when they asked to search it. He now faces a felony charge.

POLITICALLY GEORGIA

Brian Kemp cheers potential Paramount move as merger divides lawmakers

Paramount Skydance’s CEO has threatened to move their corporate headquarters out of California. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and other state officials see it as an opportunity.

Atlanta mayor weighs in as fight over Olympic cauldron heats up

Dickens said the city “stands ready to ensure the cauldron" and surrounding area appropriately honor Atlanta’s Olympic legacy and those who have cared for it the last 30 years