Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy was effusive in his excitement for new Cowboys edge-rusher Aldon Smith, saying he is “thankful” to have the opportunity to work with Smith in the coming year.

McCarthy noted Smith is still in excellent physical shape, but added he hopes to ease Smith back into playing shape (via Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk):

“I haven’t been through that with a player … I think the most important thing I can do as a coach to make sure we give all of our guys, Aldon included, the foundation to expect success and try not to do too much, too fast.”

However, McCarthy also said Smith is in a “great place” in Dallas (via Williams):

“He is such an impressive young man and his path to Dallas is special and unique, so just thankful and blessed to be a part of this opportunity with him … You know, he wants to get back professionally and be productive. He’s in great physical shape. It will be exciting to see him get out there for the first time. He’s bigger and stronger than he was when we had a chance to compete against him there when he was with the 49ers obviously playing at an elite level. So, I think it will be exciting to see him on the field and get back into it. He’s in a great place and very thankful for him being a part of the Dallas Cowboys.”

Smith has not played in the NFL since 2015 due to a number of off-field issues as well as suspensions related to performance-enhancing drugs. He was recently reinstated by commissioner Robert Goodell.

But Smith reportedly put on a ton of muscle in the hopes of making it back to the NFL, and he will get his opportunity in Dallas.

The Cowboys will need Smith to be productive. They lost Robert Quinn in free agency, while also being unsure whether Randy Gregory will be reinstated from his own suspension.