The Detroit Lions are planning to release veteran defensive end Za'Darius Smith, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on Sunday.
The Lions talked about options over the last week but a $2 million roster bonus due Friday, spurred the action, the source told Fowler.
Smith wrote "Thank you Detroit" on his Instagram page after the news, sharing photos from his Lions tenure.
Smith finished with nine sacks last season -- four with the Lions -- playing a pivotal role on Detroit's defense after the team lost Pro Bowl edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson in Week 6 to a fractured tibia and fibula.