Jaylon Smith's Health Improving
It appears Jaylon Smith’s fortunes are finally looking up.
According to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News, the nerve in the former Notre Dame linebacker’s left leg has started to regenerate and it appears that the linebacker will be back participating in offseason drills with the Cowboys.
"Yeah, it's regenerating," Smith told the Dallas Morning News of his nerve in his left leg. "It's just a thing that you have to have patience. I'm going to continue to do everything I'm asked and controlling what I can control and we're going to take our time with it.”
He also said he could have played at an “elite level” in the playoffs. The Cowboys, the NFC’s top seed, have a first-round bye.
Smith suffered a devastating knee injury in last year’s Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State. He had surgery to reconstruct his left ACL. During Smith’s recovery he also dealt with a drop foot condition that has required him to wear a brace.
He was put on injured reserve last month. Smith told reporters that he recently ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, a sign that the speed has returned to the linebacker.
"He's made tremendous progress," Cowboys coach Jason Garrett told reporters Thursday. "It doesn't surprise us one bit."
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