# Za'Darius Smith's explosive Falcons debut shows what's coming

> The veteran pass rusher recorded two sacks in just 16 snaps while recovering from a shoulder injury.
- Title: Za'Darius Smith's explosive Falcons debut shows what's coming
- Summary: The veteran pass rusher recorded two sacks in just 16 snaps while recovering from a shoulder injury. Za'Darius Smith made an immediate impact with two sacks…
- Keywords: za'darius smith, atlanta falcons, pittsburgh steelers, pass rush, nfl, john timu, mercedes-benz stadium, carolina panthers, sack celebration, tim williams, baltimore, sports
- Source: Atlanta Falcons On SI — https://si.com/nfl/falcons/onsi/zadarius-smith-embracing-football-falcons-camaraderie-after-dominant-debut
- Published: 2026-09-15T21:03:10+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: za'darius smith, atlanta falcons, pittsburgh steelers, pass rush, nfl, john timu, mercedes-benz stadium, carolina panthers, sack celebration, tim williams, baltimore, sports
## Instant impact in limited action
Smith played only 16 defensive snaps in his Falcons debut against Pittsburgh but recorded two sacks, three tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits.
## Easing back from shoulder injury
Smith credited coach John Timu for not rushing him back from shoulder soreness. The limited snap count was by design to protect his recovery.

> Big shout-out to coach (OLB coach John Timu) for not rushing me back. Easing me back into the game.
## Team first despite personal success
Smith acknowledged his strong performance but stayed focused on the loss. He's already looking for ways to help the team get a win this weekend.

> But, you know, the overall thing was we took a L. So just trying to figure out ways to get a dub this weekend.
## More than just Sunday production
Smith is enjoying being back in football and embracing the fun of playing the game again after time away.
## Building chemistry off the field
Smith is quickly embracing camaraderie in Atlanta's locker room. He's even planning to host teammates to watch Thursday Night Football together.
## Bringing his church to the game
Smith plans to bring 40-45 members of his church to the Carolina game. They'll travel together on a Greyhound bus to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
## Community connection in Atlanta
The church trip is Smith's unique way of bringing a piece of his community with him as he begins his first season with the Falcons.
## The story behind the celebration
Smith's sack celebration is called the dog crawl. He borrowed it from former Baltimore teammate Tim Williams, who played at Alabama.

> It's a dog crawl, with me eating and then me getting full at the same time. So, I stuck with it, and I've been doing it for over 10 years now.
## A decade-long tradition continues
Smith has been doing the dog crawl celebration for over 10 years. He started using it after seeing Williams do it in Baltimore.
## Attitude matters as much as stats
Smith's positive mindset and enjoyment of the game may be just as valuable as his on-field production for Atlanta's locker room.
## Comfortable in the new scheme
The veteran is already comfortable in Atlanta's defensive scheme and building strong relationships with teammates while integrating his personal community into the season.
## Big things ahead when fully healthy
If Smith maintains this level of disruption as his health and workload improve, Atlanta may have added a significant weapon to its pass rush.
## Key takeaway

Za'Darius Smith made an immediate impact with two sacks in limited snaps, and his production should only increase as he gets healthier.