From the beginning all I said was that back in March, based on Jones' comments, Smith was likely still using some sort of brace in some capacity. Otherwise, Jones wouldn't be talking about the possibility of having to play with the brace. If Jones was brace free in his offeason, away from Frisco workouts as you seem to believe based on your photo analysis, then Jones wouldn't be talking about the fact Smith may have to use that brace to play football.
Unless of course you are trying to suggest Jones really doesn't have an idea as to the extent of Smith's workouts, whether he needs a brace to perform some or all of his training, etc.
I don't know the totality of what Jones knows. I certainly do not front that I do and make conclusions off of it. That would be you although you hide it and try to put it on me by your "unless you are trying to suggest that Jones really doesn't have an idea of" blah blah blah.
Did Jones say anything about doctors or trainers? All he said was at some time in the past that he and his organization were comfortable working with him wearing an AFO if it came to that.
Nothing more and nothing less.
What's really interesting is that you insist that his considering the possibility means that he must wear one. Your problem is the 800 lbs gorilla in the room when he explicitly states that "it is not a given."
Frankly, I don't waste my time with that nonsense about what he must have known and when he should have known it. It unprovable garbage that wasters everyone's time. I will stick with what we can verifiably know. For example:
1. We know that he considers the possibility of wearing the brace. From the interview.
2. We know that he considers the possibility of not having to wear the brace. From the interview.
3. We know that he is still waiting to see how it works out. From the interview.
4. We know that the nerve is firing from various reports and the first report of that was in January from DMN's Brandon George.
5. We know that Jaylon's exit interview from football activities was in January. From the NFL schedule.
6. We know that Jaylon has been working out with third parties. We know this from the videos on social media.
7. We know that Jaylon will be returning for the offseason program on April 18. Small assumption here that he will volunteer and not pull a D Hambrick. Again from the NFL schedule.
8. We know that he has been walking around casually without a brace. We have seen several pictures over the course of months of him doing it. From social media.
9. We have also seen several workout videos and not seen the AFO.
1 through 8 are completely factual and verifiable. Number 9 gives an obvious implication. So what kinds of narrative makes it so that all of those facts work. Here is one:
The team had him wearing the AFO while he worked out with the team up until the new year. During the exit interview like all players they gave him a road map of what they would like to see him accomplish in the months of interim before he returns.
It was around that time that the nerve started to fire and he could flex his peroneal. He started training diligently to strengthen the peroneal and regain his coordination. He stopped wearing the AFO as much as possible.
That is one thing I am comfortable assuming: Jaylon is doing everything in his power to not have to wear the orthotic.
For day to day activity he didn't need it at all. For some training he did not need it like the hurdles but for the quick twitch agility drills he still needed support. They compromised on a heavy tape job.
Stephen Jones is monitoring all of this but Jaylon has not been working with Britt Brown and company since he left and when he left he was wearing the orthotic. This leaves Jones unsure of where he will stand exactly when he returns and works with the trainers he knows and trusts best. He is encouraged by the progress but is cognizant of the continuing need for support and needs to hear from his trainers and seeing for himself before making a decision. He may need an AFO. He may not need an AFO but they will have to wait and see.
Folks. It's the same people that always follow me around looking to prove me wrong on any point they possibly can. You're just one more to add to the squad. 
