It has been a difficult path back to the NFL for Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory over the last couple of years due to various off-the-field issues.

However, it appears he has finally gotten things straightened out this offseason that has him on pace to be in the fold to begin the 2018 season. According to Calvin Watkins of The Athletic, head coach Jason Garrett has voiced that he anticipates that Gregory will be ready to play in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers.

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This has come to be expected with the progress he has made in the last several weeks that have seen him entirely involved with the team on the field while he has also earned the support of team owner Jerry Jones stating that he believes that Gregory will play in the season opener. This alone should speak volumes in terms of where things stand if Jones has chimed in with a strong statement regarding the 25-year-old's role this upcoming season.

Gregory has missed 30 out of the last 32 regular-season games due to violating the league’s substance abuse policy multiple times. The last time that he played in an NFL game was back during the 2016 regular season finale. Since then, it was a struggle to stay on the field that he finally appears to be past his previous problems that potentially put his NFL career in jeopardy before he had a chance to prove that he belongs in the league.

There is an opportunity for him to etch out a significant role on the defensive line with defensive tackle David Irving set to miss the first four games of the year due to suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Either way, Gregory has a chance to make his mark in the NFL in that finally will begin in the coming weeks.