New York Giants activate former Dallas Cowboys linebacker

The New York Giants have activated linebacker Jaylon Smith from their practice squad ahead of their game against Smith’s former team, the Dallas Cowboys, on Sunday. 

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network shared the news after the Giants put linebackers Oshane Ximines and Trent Harris on the COVID-19 list, and they have four linebackers on IR.

Smith spent the first four years of his career in Dallas, quickly making a name for himself. He started every game from 2018-20 and earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2019. However, the 26 year old fell behind on the depth chart in 2021, starting just two of the six games he played with the Cowboys.

He was temporarily with the Green Bay Packers earlier this season, and played in two games before the Packers released him on Nov. 2. Smith recorded just one tackle.

The Pro Bowl linebacker has 517 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, nine sacks and six forced fumbles in his career.

The Indiana native and former five-star recruit spent his collegiate career at Notre Dame. He was a standout linebacker for the team, winning the Butkus Award in 2015. He recorded 115 tackles (nine for loss), five passes defended and two fumble recoveries as a junior before declaring for the 2016 draft. Smith tore his ACL in the Fiesta Bowl in 2016 and fell down the draft ladder. The Cowboys took him early in the second round with the No. 34 pick overall.

Giants seeking second NFC East win

The Giants host the Cowboys at 1 p.m. ET on Fox on Sunday, and they have just one division win this year; they topped the Philadelphia Eagles 13-7 on Nov. 28. If they want to get their second NFC East win this year, they will have to do it without starting quarterback Daniel Jones. Jones remains sidelined with a neck injury. It will be his third consecutive missed game, as he suffered the injury against the Eagles in that win. Veteran quarterback Mike Glennon will get the start for New York.

Although not technically out of the playoff race in a struggling NFC East, New York would need a lot of luck to make the postseason with a current record of 4-9.

The 9-4 Cowboys are currently the No. 4 seed in the NFC but still very much in the running for the top playoff spot. Their remaining schedule features all three NFC East foes as well as Arizona, the current No. 3 seed.

On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this report.