If it was up to newly acquired pass rusher Za’Darius Smith, he'd be suiting up Sunday night in Houston in his new No. 99 Detroit Lions jersey and playing against the Texans.

"Man, I know the game well," Smith said Friday after his first practice with the Lions since being traded to Detroit Tuesday. "Obviously, I've been in the game for 10 years now. I know football. It's just more getting the plays in and knowing the blitzes. They basically want me to be on cue with the blitzes. So, hopefully, man, you know, something can work out here in the next 24 hours."

Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Friday he hasn't decided if Smith will be active and play Sunday night against a Houston offense that's tied for the second most sacks allowed this season (31). Smith said he's spent the last couple days in Florida checking on his house that was affected by the recent hurricanes that went through the state.

"We've played against him, Minnesota, Green Bay. So, we know what that is but he's tough, he's violent and he's got a motor and then we're not even talking about potentially outside or inside, getting in the edge and pass rush, and just helping whether that's straight rush or running the games," Campbell said of Smith's fit in Detroit's defense. "I just think he's going to be a perfect fit for us."

Smith, 32, has compiled five sacks in nine games this season for Cleveland and has 20 quarterback hurries. He's played for Baltimore, Green Bay and Minnesota before a stop in Cleveland the last two seasons. He had double-digit sack seasons in Green Bay (2019 & 2020) and in Minnesota (2022).

Smith, 6-4, 270, can also set the edge and take on double teams in the run game, which is a prerequisite to play significant snaps in Aaron Glenn's defense in Detroit. He has the size and skillset to be an important piece of this Lions defense in both facets.

First impressions on Friday had Smith pretty impressed with the situation he's walking into in Detroit.

"To be around great guys and a great group man is big," he said. "I actually had a chance to go out and practice today and man the things we are doing in practice, I see why this football team is so dominant."

DECKER INJURY

Taylor Decker popped up on the practice report Thursday with a shoulder injury and Campbell said his veteran left tackle wasn't going to practice Friday, putting his availability for Sunday in question.

"It's really about how he heals up," Campbell said Friday. "I don't feel like this is something major, but we need to see, really, how he feels over the next 48 hours."

Dan Skipper has played the swing tackle role all season for the Lions and would likely fill in if Decker couldn't go.

POCKET PRESENCE

Watching the individual portion of Lions practice, QBs coach Mark Brunell has Jared Goff and the rest of his quarterbacks extensively going through pocket presence drills.

Goff's always had good pocket presence but this year he's taken it to another level. He's been terrific shifting in the pocket and buying time. Brunell emphasizes it because he knows in this offense with the weapons they have, there will always be someone open if Goff can give them time.

"He has an incredible amount of confidence in the guys up front," Brunell said of Goff. "He does a good job of securing the ball keeping his eyes downfield and just trying to buy some space and buy some time so he can progress and get through his options in the pass game.

"He has a really good feel for it. It's not easy to come by. He's worked at it, certainly, throughout his career but it's certainly an emphasis for us. Our guys are going to get open and there are times where you have to navigate the pocket a little bit."

STOPPING MIXON

Campbell said Friday the key to Detroit's defensive effort Sunday night starts with limiting Texans veteran running back Joe Mixon. Over the course of the last four weeks, Mixon has recorded six total touchdowns (five rushing & one receiving), tied for the most in the NFL through that span. He's had at least 100 rushing yards and a touchdown in four straight contests.

"We have to shut down Mixon, I think he's the key, but this guy will hurt you," Campbell said. "Everybody's got a job to do, do your job and do it violently."

Detroit's allowed at least 138 rushing yards in each of their last three contests after allowing 100 yards rushing in just one of their first five contests.