Dallas Cowboys fans have seen several great players on the defensive side of the ball come and go over the years, and one former Pro Bowl linebacker appears to be mounting an NFL comeback.
Jaylon Smith was a prospect that Jerry Jones and the Cowboys took a chance on in the 2016 NFL Draft, as, despite serious injury concerns, Dallas selected him near the top of the second round. For those who may not remember, Smith was considered a top-flight prospect before a knee injury that tore his ACL and LCL changed everything. Now, however, Smith appears ready to make an NFL comeback, and he is trying to do so in one of the places he formerly called home.
Former Cowboy Jaylon Smith Attempting an NFL Comeback
Unfortunately, things did not work out as well for Smith once he left Dallas as he appeared in just 20 total games as a member of the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and the Las Vegas Raiders after being released by the Cowboys in 2021. However, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Smith is attending the Raiders' rookie minicamp this weekend on a tryout basis.
If Smith is, in fact, healthy and capable of making it through a 17-game season, he could be a quality signing for Las Vegas, assuming he impresses in his tryout. That all needs to be proven by Smith before the Raiders, or any other team, seriously considering giving him a chance to continue his playing career.
Ultimately, Smith went from a sure-fire top draft pick to a second-rounder, but the gamble paid off for the Cowboys. From 2018-2020, Smith was a machine for Dallas, starting in all 48 games they played and recording 412 total tackles, eight sacks, and two interceptions. This stretch helped him earn Pro Bowl honors following the 2019 campaign.
It remains to be seen whether or not Smith can resurrect his career and return to the game's biggest stage. Cowboys fans will surely be rooting for him though as he provided so much of himself to the franchise during his tenure in Dallas.