FRISCO, Texas – It’s been well-documented how far Jaylon Smith has come in his recovery from the devastating injury that impacted his 2016 draft stock. Smith has confirmed, along with Cowboys officials, that he no longer needs his support brace to practice or play.
It’s worth noting what that workload looks like right now. Through two weeks of OTAs, Smith has been functioning as the Cowboys’ primary middle linebacker. He runs with the first-team, while first-round draft pick Leighton Vander Esch has primarily worked with the second-team.
“In a perfect world, you’ve got three guys to play two spots, for your nickel and base stuff,” said defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli.