ST: Jaylon Smith: I’ll never rule myself out. Everything is on the up.

[jobberone]

Jaylon Smith: I’ll never rule myself out. Everything is on the up.

Cowboys Corner Blog
The latest news and notes about the Dallas Cowboys

Jaylon Smith is recovering from a severe knee injury, but Jerry Jones says he could return this season. Brad Loper
BY DREW DAVISON

ddavison@star-telegram.com

FRISCO
Most have thought Cowboys rookie linebacker Jaylon Smith would take a “redshirt” season in rehabbing from a severe knee injury sustained in his final college game.

But owner Jerry Jones hasn’t given up hope that Smith may be able to get back on the field at some point this season, and Smith hasn’t either.

The question of Smith returning came up after Smith posted on his Twitter account (@thejaylonsmith) Monday: “Oh Lord, Thankyou” with a praying hands emoji.

“I’ll never rule myself out,” Smith said on Tuesday. “Everything is on the up.”

Smith, 21, tore two ligaments – his ACL and MCL – and sustained nerve damage in his left knee last January in the Fiesta Bowl. Still, the Cowboys used their second-round pick on the Notre Dame product, knowing he faced a long recovery road before he could make an impact on the field.

“I’m running, sprinting, doing linebacker drills. I’m doing so much. I’m very pleased,” Smith said. “If you’ve seen me run and do drills it would be hard to tell what’s really wrong with me.”


Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/sports...rner-blog/article105964527.html#storylink=cpy

 

[jobberone]

I like this report although it doesn't add anything. At least he's running and doing drills.

 

[CT Dal Fan]

That this is suddenly becoming a hot topic tells me something good is about to happen. Getting a likely top five pick in the second round is the only way to make a draft headlined by Dak and Zeke even more epic.

 

[Broges74]

I hope he is ready by camp. I'd redshirt him regardless of the status of the nerve.

 

[jobberone]

I hope he is ready by camp. I'd redshirt him regardless of the status of the nerve.

Why would you do that? If he's ready to go he plays. The risk of injury is the same as any player.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

Reminds me of Jamie Collins on the patriots. Big, fast, can rush, can cover

 

[JDSmith]

I hope he is ready by camp. I'd redshirt him regardless of the status of the nerve.

If the nerve is a go then he upgrades our LB corps instantly. I'm not redshirting an instant upgrade who could potentially help us make a playoff run. Yeah, the team has some holes, but so does every other team. Redshirting him, if the nerve is firing, is taking away a great weapon for our defense.

 

[jazzcat22]

I am ready for some very good news, after all the other injury news we been getting.

 

[lwehlers]

Why would you do that? If he's ready to go he plays. The risk of injury is the same as any player.

totally agree if he can play at the end of the season he needs to play. if it is only one game it would be good for him to know for the team and himself that he can play in nfl.

 

[Sydla]

I am ready for some very good news, after all the other injury news we been getting.

I'd trade a Tapper for Smith being healthy for the stretch run.

 

[JDSmith]

I am ready for some very good news, after all the other injury news we been getting.

It's been a tough run, but the team keeps on playing tough and winning games. I don't care what the competition looks like, when you're out your starting QB, LT, LG, WR1, CB, DE (not injury) and your kicker is nursing a bad back, every win is huge. But man, a little good injury news would be pretty spectacular about now.

 

[Broges74]

Why would you do that? If he's ready to go he plays. The risk of injury is the same as any player.

The fact is he missed so much time and the NFL is a different beast. This isnt Tank where you line the guy up and point him towards the QB, LB is much more about practice and preparation. He may have close to the same statistical odds as anyone coming off an ACL/MCL tear but he also has a long shot chance of contributing at any meaningful level this year. To me. This a risk versus reward deal and I'd feel better with him having the extended time to not only get to 100% but also become an NFL ready LB.

 

[theebs]

In the stadium when he is just hanging around while the lb's are warming up, he looks huge.

he literally looks bigger than all our linebackers.

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

I don't like the talk about him running and doing drills...seems like him trying to make himself feel better about the situation. Seems like unless that nerve fires, he can't really cut or drive off of that foot. So we're still at square one unless nerves have fired or he's had some sensation.

Though I'm assuming if there was a bit of feeling, I'm guessing they wouldn't want to tell the media and fans and blow it out of proportion or raise hopes when there would still be other steps needed

 

[TRUTH87]

I don't like the talk about him running and doing drills...seems like him trying to make himself feel better about the situation. Seems like unless that nerve fires, he can't really cut or drive off of that foot. So we're still at square one unless nerves have fired or he's had some sensation.

Though I'm assuming if there was a bit of feeling, I'm guessing they wouldn't want to tell the media and fans and blow it out of proportion or raise hopes when there would still be other steps needed

agree w the last part. even wen it refires , its not something i see dallas going out and saying. jaylon either.

 

[waving monkey]

It seems to me that exercise would be a method in stimulus the firing of the nerve

 

[marchetta]

 

[jobberone]

The fact is he missed so much time and the NFL is a different beast. This isnt Tank where you line the guy up and point him towards the QB, LB is much more about practice and preparation. He may have close to the same statistical odds as anyone coming off an ACL/MCL tear but he also has a long shot chance of contributing at any meaningful level this year. To me. This a risk versus reward deal and I'd feel better with him having the extended time to not only get to 100% but also become an NFL ready LB.

There is no increased risk of injury or reinjury. It remains the same for any player's knee.

Yes he will have to be game shape but modern training techniques should help that a lot. He'll still need to ease into the speed of the game but I suspect that won't be a huge problem for him.

I'm not making a prediction just saying if he gets the green light they will have to cut someone or move a player to the PS.

 

[Aven8]

To me it's always been a year. Even it wasn't for the nerve a blow acl/mcl, January will only be a year removed. Don't get the timetable.

 

[JDSmith]

To me it's always been a year. Even it wasn't for the nerve a blow acl/mcl, January will only be a year removed. Don't get the timetable.

Because surgery and rehab are always improving. They said the knee was already at 100% in training camp.