NFL Rumors: Jaylon Smith not expected to play in 2016, teams unsure of recovery time

By John Buhler | Apr 18, 2016

Jan 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jaylon Smith (9) cries as he is carted off the field after suffering an injury un the first quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2016 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker and NFL Draft hopeful Jaylon Smith received tough news Monday afternoon, as he won’t play in 2016 or maybe ever again.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish outside linebacker and 2016 NFL Draft prospect received some tough news about his ACL and LCL injuries suffered in the Fiesta Bowl versus the Ohio State Buckeyes.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Smith “is not expected to play in 2016 and teams are unsure when he will play again.”

After medical rechecks, Notre Dame's Jaylon Smith is not expected to play in 2016 and teams are unsure when he will play again, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 18, 2016

Even after tearing multiple knee ligaments in his knee, the 2015 Consensus All-American and Butkus Award winner declared for the 2016 NFL Draft after his junior season in South Bend.

From the sound of it, not only will Smith not be the first-round pick he was projected as coming out of Notre Dame, but he may have had a knee injury as bad as what former South Carolina Gamecocks star running back Marcus Lattimore suffered in his short, but brilliant football career. Not every player can bounce back from brutal knee injuries even with all the advancements in medical science.

If teams are that unsure about if and when Smith can return to action on the gridiron, he may be lucky to go in Day 3 of the 2016 NFL Draft. The shame in it all is that Smith could have gone in the top 10 of the 2016 NFL Draft as one of the premier linebackers in the college game. Now, he may have had his pro career cut short before it even began.

Keep in mind that Lattimore was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers even after his devastating knee injury that ended his football career. Because he had first-round talent, somebody will almost certainly take a late-round gamble on Smith to see if he can recover and play like the All-American he was while at Notre Dame.

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