Report: Cowboys to place rookie Jaylon Smith on NFI list

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith will start his rookie training camp on the non-football injury list, reports Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram.

Still working his way back from a significant knee injury suffered in the final game of his college career, all indications have been that Smith is unlikely to play in 2016.

The Cowboys will presumably see his recovery through until it becomes absolutely necessary to shut him down for the year, however, and the NFI list is the first step in that process.

Smith, the 2015 Dick Butkus award winner, was considered by many to be a potential top-five pick before the injury cast some doubt upon his short- and long-term playing future.

While there's still plenty of uncertainty surrounding his status in the weeks and months ahead, the Cowboys have expressed confidence that he'll put together a long NFL career.

Smith being cleared for action at some point over the next two seasons would certainly have the potential to give the Cowboys an incredible return on their second-round pick.

For the time being, the defense will move forward with Sean Lee, Justin Durant, and Anthony Hitchens as the projected starters at linebacker.