OXNARD, Calif. -- When the dust had settled on Jaylon Smith's first padded practice Wednesday in 572 days, the second-year linebacker was still smiling.

That has been a constant through Smith's 19-month recovery from a major injury to his left knee that put his football career in jeopardy.

Smith cleared yet another hurdle in the Cowboys' first padded practice. He took part in eight team drills with the second team -- six runs and two passes -- that included contact. Smith also went through individual drills but didn't do seven-on-seven work.

Jaylon Smith (54) in pads for first time ... pic.twitter.com/YH7fYxv2fy — Brandon George (@DMN_George) July 26, 2017

Smith was fluid and didn't hesitate changing directions. He moved well laterally and accelerated when needed. He didn't show the same explosiveness that once had him projected as a top-five pick while at Notre Dame, but he never favored that left knee or ankle throughout practice.

"That was a great feeling, a huge accomplishment being back on the field," Smith said, surrounded by a mob of media members. "It was full pads, so there were a lot of things that come with it. The nitty-gritty and the full contact. It's something that I embraced, and I was able to get after it."

Smith managed to stay on his feet during team drills and out of the muck when players bunched up. On one run, he was turned around and appeared to miss his gap, allowing the back to dart free through a hole to the left side.

But a misstep on a read far trumps watching from the sideline for the last year and a half.

Smith said when he's on the field he's only thinking football, not worried about the custom Richie brace he's wearing to support his drop-foot condition. Smith's latest electromyogram -- his third of the year -- came last week and showed more nerve regeneration in his left leg.

All signs continue to point up for a player who has never wavered.

Pro Bowl linebacker Sean Lee didn't practice Wednesday but spent a lot of time watching Smith.

"He looked great," Lee said. "He moved great. I knew he probably would."

Smith wowed the Cowboys with his presence, physique, intellect and infectious attitude from the moment he had a triumphal entry in the club's meeting room at the NFL combine two months before the 2016 draft.

At the combine, NFL teams go through six days of meetings with the best draft-eligible college players -- like speed dating on steroids -- and Smith blew away the Cowboys' brass when he walked into the room.

Jaylon Smith sprinting in individual drill in pads for first time: pic.twitter.com/37kpwrXp5n — Brandon George (@DMN_George) July 26, 2017

His hand swallowed coach Jason Garrett's upon their first introduction. He took charge right away when coaches had him talk football.

Cowboys coaches told the prospect scheduled to meet with them after Smith to wait. They wanted more time with the player they'd eventually draft early in the second round.

"His tape from college was off the charts and maybe more important to us, just the kind of young man he is," Garrett said. "The reports from Notre Dame were off the charts and our experiences with him leading up to the draft were off the charts. He hasn't disappointed. The expectations for him as a guy were really high and he's exceeded all of them."

Maybe receiver Dez Bryant put it best earlier in the week.

"He's a freak of nature," Bryant said. "He looks like a damn action figure out here. The guy is phenomenal."

The Cowboys don't want to rush Smith. Wednesday was the first time he's practiced three consecutive days since late 2015. He won't participate Thursday so he can get in consecutive off days. The Cowboys don't practice Friday.

The Cowboys were watching Smith's every move during practice and planned to watch it again and again on tape afterward. But more than anything, they wanted to put more weight on their naked-eye view and monitor whether Smith changed directions well, finished a play strong, looked at or touched his left knee or ankle at all or limped.

None of those concerns surfaced.

"I can't remember the last time I had pain in my knee or my foot," Smith said after practice. "My knee feels 100 percent. I can hop on one leg."

After it was all over, Lee pulled Smith to the side and offered a pseudo after-school tutoring session. Lee said the two linebackers "talked through some plays."

"He's the complete package," Lee added. "He's an unbelievable athlete, certainly intelligent, great instincts. If you would design a linebacker that's what you'd want him to look like. He's impressed me in every single way."

More Jaylon Smith ... pic.twitter.com/CyW5h7Oo77 — Brandon George (@DMN_George) July 26, 2017

A closer look at Smith's injury

Briefly

-- WR Dez Bryant, TE Jason Witten, RB Darren McFadden, DL Tyrone Crawford, LB Sean Lee and CB Orlando Scandrick didn't practice Wednesday because the Cowboys are working in extra off days for those veterans.

-- Rookie CB Jourdan Lewis was expected to arrive in Southern California after practice Wednesday. He missed the first three days of camp for a misdemeanor domestic violence trial. He was found not guilty Tuesday. He'll work out Thursday and Friday and could join the team in pads Saturday.

-- The Cowboys worked out WR Marvin Bracy and WR Corey Washington on Wednesday but won't sign either.

-- DT Maliek Collins suffered a hip flexor in practice, and DE Charles Tapper had cramps, but executive vice president Stephen Jones said they are not major concerns.

-- The Cowboys announced third-string quarterback Zac Dysert returned to Dallas with a back injury that will require surgery.