Report: Cowboys' Jaylon Smith to likely start Sunday vs. Giants

After almost two years on the sidelines due to a horrific knee injury, Jaylon Smith is set to make his return to football, as he's likely to start Sunday for the Dallas Cowboys, reports ESPN's Todd Archer.

The middle linebacker was one of the country's best players during his time at Notre Dame before suffering the injury in his final college game against Ohio State in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl. He was projected to be a top-5 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft but slid to the second round after tearing his ACL which led to nerve damage in his foot.

After sitting out all of last season while rehabbing the injury, Smith returned to the team for OTAs and training camp this summer. His work ethic caught the eye of fellow linebacker Sean Lee, the man who will line up beside him this season.

"I'm extremely comfortable with him," Lee told Archer. "The type of work he's put in to come back, what he's looked like in the OTAs, what he's looked like in training camp, he's ready to play."

The Cowboys face the New York Giants in an NFC East showdown on Sunday.

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