After months of waiting, Aldon Smith finally knows his fate for the 2020 NFL season. Smith–who was signed by the Dallas Cowboys at the beginning of April–has been reinstated by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The former All-Pro has not played since 2015.

Dallas lost edge-rusher Robert Quinn in free agency, but Smith's reinstatement gives them some added depth on the defensive line.

Smith looked like one of the league's next big stars when he posted 14.0 sacks during his rookie season in 2011. He followed up with an All-Pro campaign in 2012, notching 19.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception to go along with 18 tackles for a loss.

But the law started to catch up to Smith. He had already been arrested for driving under the influence in January of 2012 and was again arrested on suspicion of DUI in September of 2013. He would later check into a rehab facility.

Having seemingly conquered some of his personal demons, Smith sought to return to the field in 2014. But he was suspended nine games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

Smith did play in 2014 after his suspension, but he was again arrested for DUI in August of 2015, as well as DU and vandalism charges. He would join the Raiders but was eventually suspended indefinitely due to the incident that August.

Though Smith has been out of the league since then, he has still gone through a number of incidents. He was booked on domestic violence-related charges in March of 2018.

Smith will get another chance in Dallas. He reportedly set to bulking up in anticipation of an NFL return, and the Cowboys hope he can stay on the straight and narrow and be a difference-maker.