Cowboys LB Jaylon Smith makes tackle, plays 12 snaps in long-awaited NFL debut

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith made his long-awaited NFL debut Saturday night, nearly 600 days after he suffered a devastating knee injury in his final game for Notre Dame.

Smith, selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2016 draft despite the injury, did not play last season as he continued to recover from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligament. He also sustained significant nerve damage, which has hindered his comeback.

But Smith took a substantial step in his recovery when he was cleared to participate in training camp this year. Saturday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts was yet another major milestone.

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Smith started in place of veteran Sean Lee, who sat out with a hamstring issue, and played 12 snaps. He was credited with making a third-down tackle in the first quarter.

Smith told reporters that it was “blessing” to finally play in his first NFL game.

“I’m so honored to play the game that I love,” he said. “From Day 1, I believed in myself.”

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Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones

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