Los Angeles (AFP) – The NFL has conditionally reinstated Dallas Cowboys defensive end Aldon Smith, who had been suspended indefinitely for multiple off-field incidents, US media reported Wednesday.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram was among the outlets reporting Smith would be eligible to participate with the Cowboys starting Tuesday.
Smith, was the seventh overall selection in the 2011 NFL draft and set a record for most sacks during the first two years of a career with 33.5 in 2011 and 2012. He had 42 sacks in his first 43 games.
But he hasn’t played in the league since 2015, when he was suspended indefinitely for repeat violations of the league’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies.
He was released by the San Francisco 49ers in August of 2015 after facing a third drink driving charge along with hit and run and vandalism charges.
He signed with the Oakland Raiders but was suspended by the NFL that November for one year.
Smith was not reinstated and missed the 2016 and 2017 seasons. He was finally dropped by the Raiders in 2018 after being named a suspect in a domestic violence incident.
The Cowboys offered Smith a chance at redemption when they signed the 30-year-old pass rusher to a $2 million one-year contract with a chance to double his money with performance bonuses.