Smith Is Gone. The Falcons' Pass-Rush Fix Lasted Eight Days.

Za'Darius Smith revealed Tuesday that he retired last season after just five games with the Eagles to spend time with his mother before her death. The Falcons signed him on August 18 to shore up a pass rush that had already lost James Pearce Jr. to an eight-game suspension and Jalon Walker to a torn ACL. Now that signing is void before the regular season begins.

The depth chart at defensive end tells the story plainly. Samson Ebukam is the only DE who logged meaningful snaps last season. Behind him, Cameron Sample and Zach Harrison have no production on record. That was the situation before Atlanta thought it had Smith. It is the situation again now.

The linebacker picture compounds it. Josh Woods is the starter, and he's been a below-replacement-level player at that position. The Falcons have only two linebackers with any real playing time on file, and the position has been thin since they cut Troy Andersen and lost Kaden Elliss in free agency. Smith's presence in the depth chart at linebacker — listed as the No. 2 behind Woods — is now a name without a body.

Atlanta has roughly a week before Week 1. The pass-rush answer they found eight days ago is gone. My read is there isn't another one coming in time.