It's been a long time coming, but Jaylon Smith is wearing a Dallas Cowboys' helmet.

That may be rather inconsequential to some, but for those -- such as the team itself -- who have been drooling to see the redshirted linebacker up the ante from his usual conditioning drills, this is one step closer to the holy grail of Sept. 10.

After seeing limited duty which included virtually on field work during rookie minicamp, Smith was on the field and putting his rehabbed knee and newly regenerative (albeit not yet fully) nerve through the full paces. And although it wasn't a practice made available for public consumption, the below image alone sends chills down the spin of the Cowboys' faithful.

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The Cowboys are escalating the intensity on Smith over the course of the offseason with the goal of full participation in training camp this July, as they prepare for his official NFL debut in the opener against the rival New York Giants.

Time will tell if he'll need to wear the protective brace on his foot, but owner Jerry Jones has professed no one should rule out a possible full regeneration of the nerve in his rehabilitated knee -- which could mean Smith goes brace-less this Fall. Given his talent level and beefed up physique, there's real potential for the former All-American to become the newest All-Pro wearing the Star.

It is all contingent, of course, upon how his Summer 2017 shakes out.

So, you're saying there's a chance?

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[H/t Photo: Jeremiah Jhass]