The jersey is gone, but the situation is far from over. A veteran pass rusher who briefly wore midnight green has quietly forced himself back into an uncomfortable NFC conversation after Week 15, and the timing has raised eyebrows across the league.

He was brought in as insurance. A stabilizing presence meant to add experience and pressure off the edge during a critical stretch of the season. Instead, the experiment unraveled quickly, ending in a sudden midseason retirement that caught both fans and teammates off guard.

For weeks, the story felt finished. Then an NFC powerhouse suffered a devastating injury to its defensive centerpiece. As the star was helped off the field, a single social media post appeared. Just a pair of eyes. Nothing more. The message did not need explanation.

That post belonged to Za’Darius Smith. And it made one thing clear. He is not done playing football. More importantly, he wants back in now, ideally with an NFC contender suddenly desperate for pass rush help during the playoff push.

That desire brings the Eagles back into the spotlight. For Smith to sign with another team this season, Philadelphia would have to release his rights. In practical terms, his path back into the league runs directly through the organization he walked away from weeks earlier.

From the Eagles’ perspective, there is little motivation to help. Smith retired after five games despite being given an opportunity when few teams were willing to take the chance. Allowing him to resurface with a direct NFC rival would only strengthen competition during the most critical stretch of the year.

On the field, Smith was far from ineffective. In limited action, he recorded 10 tackles, three quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. His 77.7 PFF grade reflected steady pressure and confirmed there was still fuel left in the tank.

Still, his role was never projected to grow. Snap counts remained capped, and with injured defenders nearing a return, his path to consistent playing time was narrowing. That reality likely fueled his initial decision to step away.

Now circumstances have shifted. A contender needs help, and Smith wants another shot at a Super Bowl run. But wanting it is not enough. Without the Eagles’ approval, his comeback remains stalled. And right now, that favor feels unlikely to be granted.

Stay tuned to ESPN!