Jaylon Smith, the former linebacker for Notre Dame, has officially signed on with the Dallas Cowboys with a four-year $6.49 million contract. However, according to a report from News Everyday, it is possible that the rookie will not be able to play for the team until 2017 at the earliest and may even have to sit out the current NFL season.
According to the report, Smith placed among the Top 5-10 rookies from the 2015-2016 college football season and managed to become the Cowboy's fifth draftee choice, which guaranteed the rookie a $2.9 million sign-in bonus with the team. However, everything came to a halt when Smith suffered a serious knee injury during the Fiesta bowl games.
The knee injury was complicated by a torn ACL and LCL followed by peroneal nerve damage. However, the report points out that while the injuries may be enough to stop Smith from ever playing professionally, the Cowboys have taken the risk by recruiting him and have even commissioned the team doctor, Dr. Dan Cooper, to treat his injuries.
It is further reported that Dr. Cooper performed the surgery on Smith's knee and after the required recovery period Smith's knee is now deemed okay and fit for play. However, there is still room for caution given the seriousness of the peroneal nerve injury. It is speculated that this injury may be the reason why Smith will not play until the next season.
"But for me now, it's understanding the nerve and I'm in a great organization with the Dallas Cowboys and Dr. Dan Cooper did my surgery -- he's the team doctor here -- so no one knows my injury more than the Cowboys and I'm just thankful to be here," Smith explained in a report from Football Insiders.
As stated by ESPN, the team is not going to place him on injury reserve in the hopes that he may recover well enough to play in the latter half of the season, which means he may be able to recuperate enough to play by 2017.
