OXNARD, Calif. – After nearly 18 months, Jaylon Smith finally got to hit somebody in full pads.
“It was a tight end,” he said. “We were in a zone coverage and I had to come out and set the edge.”
Wednesday’s practice was the Cowboys’ first work in full pads and the next progression in Smith’s recovery from the devastating knee injury he suffered in his final college game. Last year’s second-round pick missed his entire rookie season with nerve damage affecting his foot’s mobility.
He participated in individual drills and eight plays of team drills, working at middle linebacker with the second unit.