Cowboys expect Jaylon Smith to participate in rookie minicamp

The Dallas Cowboys' second-round pick from last season might be close to a return to the field, as Jason Garrett expects Jaylon Smith to participate in rookie minicamp in two weeks, the head coach told ESPN's Todd Archer on Friday.

The former Notre Dame star linebacker suffered a devastating knee injury in his final college game, causing him to drop from the first round to the second in the 2016 draft. He spent all of last season on the sidelines hoping for the nerves in his left foot to regenerate.

Smith was a beast on the field during his time with the Fighting Irish, registering 226 tackles and 4.5 sacks in his final two seasons at the collegiate level.