Za'Darius Smith shines in Falcons' season opener against Steelers
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 15, 2026, 6:33 PM
Last updated Sep 15, 2026
The Atlanta Falcons faced a challenging season debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 15, 2026. Despite the team's overall struggles, new edge rusher Za'Darius Smith made an impact, recording two sacks against quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The performance comes as the Falcons are missing key edge rushers, with Jalon Walker on injured reserve and James Pearce suspended. Smith's contributions highlight his experience and potential to bolster the defense as the season progresses.
- •Falcons lose their season opener to the Steelers.
- •Za'Darius Smith records two sacks in his debut.
- •Falcons' defense performs well despite missing key players.
- •Team may look to add depth at edge rusher.
- 6:33 PMYahoo Sports — ESPN highlights one bright spot from Falcons' loss to Steelers
"Falcons' new edge rusher came to play against former teammate Aaron Rodgers
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