Glazer: Cowboys sign Aldon Smith to 1-year deal

May 20 update: Aldon Smith has been reinstated from the suspended list.

In a rather stunning bit of news, pass rusher Aldon Smith is working to make a return to the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to a one-year contract with Smith, according to Jay Glazer.

Smith has been out of the NFL since playing nine games in the 2015 season, dealing with a variety of substance abuse and legal issues. Glazer tweeted that he is clean and sober, but given his history, the NFL will have something to say as the one-time dominant pass rusher applies for reinstatement. Glazer said Smith has been working with Glazer’s Merging Vets & Players charity, “helping our veterans dealing with sobriety issues while Aldon was getting help himself.”

Smith was one of the best pass rushers in the league right out of the gate, securing 14 sacks as a rookie with the San Francisco 49ers in 2011, and following it up with 19.5 in 2012. Things started to go south for him in 2013 as he played 11 games and had 8.5 sacks. He played in seven more games in 2014 after a nine-game suspension before the 49ers released him in August 2015. He spent nine games with the Raiders before another suspension. The Raiders released him in March 2018 after an alleged domestic violence incident.

He will re-join his former defensive line coach, Jim Tomsula with a Cowboys team that could use an upgrade to the pass rush. The two big questions are if the league will reinstate him and if he is in fact clean and sober.