Jaylon Smith Injury: Updates on Cowboys LB's Recovery from Knee Surgery

After suffering a major knee injury in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith's status remains in doubt heading into his rookie season. 

Continue for updates.

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Smith Will Not Land on IR

Thursday, May 5

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters the team hopes Smith can play "at some point" this season and will not put him on injured reserve.

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Smith's Rehab Plan Revealed 

Wednesday, May 4

Smith will complete all of his training to rehab his knee in Dallas, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News.

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Smith's Timetable for Return Unknown

Monday, April 18

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, doctors don't anticipate Smith will be able to play at all during the 2016 season.

NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported on April 15 that Smith was likely to be absent for the whole of his rookie campaign with the prevailing thought that he'd return in 2017. Schefter's sources were less definitive, and he said, "Teams are unsure when he will play again."

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Smith Remains Confident Despite Injury 

In a first-person article for Bleacher Report on April 13, Smith addressed his status: "At this point, the doctors still don't have a timetable. I could be ready to start the season, or I could miss the entire season. Anything more definitive is just speculation. What I do know is this: Once I'm 100 percent healthy and feeling comfortable, I'll be back on the field and dominating."

According to Fox Sports 910's Mike Jurecki, Smith may have covered himself financially in the event his knee injury proves to be more serious than first thought. Jurecki reported the Fighting Irish star can start collecting on a $5 million insurance policy should he fall out of the first round.

Smith is at least at a point where he can work to get back on the field. He weighed 223 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, which was 17 pounds lighter than his listed weight on Notre Dame's official site. Smith tweeted a picture of himself on a scale last week, and he appears to have gained the weight back:

On April 18, he shared a clip from his training program:

In the April 1 edition of his Scouting Notebook, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller wrote that Smith was a "consensus top player" before his injury.

Smith doesn't lack confidence, writing in his B/R article that he's the "best player in the draft." That kind of trust will help Smith during his recovery, but the bigger question is whether his body will allow him to fulfill his potential.