Looking at the Eagles consistently failing to pressure Dak Prescott in the season opener helped clear out Vic Fangio’s priority: edge rush depth. Consequently, the Eagles inked Za’Darius Smith to a one-year deal. But Fangio seems a bit unsure about the three-time Pro Bowler he just signed.

It looks like Vic Fangio didn’t look up Za’Darius Smith’s tapes before he decided to sign him. “We’ll see. …Don’t really know what Za’Darius (Smith) brings or doesn’t bring. (Josh) Uche got in there for a few snaps the other night and did some good stuff, so we’re feeling better about it,” he said.

And he can’t really be blamed for not knowing what Smith can or cannot bring. His career trajectory has been rather atypical up till now. Smith is probably the ideal example of late-career pickup. He’s got 69 career sacks, including nine in 2024, proving he can still get to the quarterback. But at 33, after bouncing around a few teams and landing in Philly on just a one-year deal, the ambiguity around him is understandable.

We can’t know for sure until we see him on the field in week 2, but he does add a few strengths to this edge rush. He brings veteran pass-rush savvy, the proven ability to win with power and counters, and the kind of leadership that can steady a locker room over a long season. And the Eagles sure can use that.

But these strengths are only valuable if they translate into consistent pressure and scheme fit. But that’s not automatic with a 33-year-old edge who’s played in multiple systems. The ambiguity also stems from the fact that this is a new-look edge rush room. Josh Sweat headed to the Cardinals in free agency, Milton Williams signed elsewhere, and the Eagles turned to cheaper depth pieces like Azeez Ojulari and Joshua Uche to help patch the gaps.

Tactically, if Smith doesn’t carve out a defined role, Vic Fangio can lean on a rotation of Nolan Smith Jr., Ojulari, and younger options like Uche or Jalyx Hunt. That setup really determines how much value a short-term pickup like Za’Darius brings. Depth shouldn’t be an issue anymore.

And while Fangio was questioning what Za’Darius Smith really adds off the edge, Nick Sirianni was dealing with a very different kind of update. The one about Jalen Carter’s possible ban.

Sirianni gets an update on Jalen Carter’s punishment

Yes, Jalen Carter gave the fans a lifetime supply of memes after the spitgate incident with Dak Prescott. And now, the league has come up with a suitable punishment. And it’s good news for the Eagles, but not so much for Carter’s pocket. He’s been suspended without pay, but he’s already served the time.

Officially, Carter was handed a one-game suspension by the league. But because his ejection came before the very first snap on Thursday night, he effectively served it by sitting out all of Philadelphia’s 24-20 win.

Carter will also lose the $57,222 game check tied to that matchup. So that makes the league’s decision essentially a one-game suspension without pay. And according to Adam Schefter, Carter does not plan to appeal the NFL’s decision. The tackle wants to fully focus on the Chiefs’ game this week.

But this might end up costing Carter more than just $57,222. It was previously reported that even a one-game suspension would automatically wipe out the remaining guarantees in Carter’s deal. And that’s including his 2025 and 2026 base salaries, along with roster bonuses for both seasons.

As we said, bad news for Carter, and really good news for Nick Sirianni. He doesn’t have to sit through a single game without his most dangerous defensive weapon anymore.