Suspended Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory has been granted conditional reinstatement by the NFL, according to a league source.
He will be allowed in the Cowboys' facility starting Monday for the purpose of going through COVID-19 testing. Once clear, he will be able to participate in meetings and get re-acclimated with the team. He has not yet been cleared to practice or play.
Per the NFL's official statement: "Gregory may report to the team on Monday, September 7 for testing and may participate in conditioning activities, individual workouts and meetings. He may begin practicing with the team the week of October 5. He will be eligible to participate in games following the team's Week 6 game on October 19."
But this is a huge step forward for Gregory, who has been suspended for 46 games since coming to the Cowboys as a second-round pick in 2015. He has not played since 2018.
Team owner Jerry Jones expressed optimism about Gregory's possible reinstatement earlier on Friday on his radio show on 105.3 The Fan.
"I know every detail about Randy and the league and us," Jones said. "I'm not at liberty to talk about those details, but I work on it probably every other day. And, so, the answer is that it's evolving and I am positive about it."
The prospect of Gregory joining a defensive line that already includes DeMarcus Lawrence, Aldon Smith and Everson Griffen has Cowboys fans salivating.
But patience must be shown.
It will be a few weeks before Gregory will be eligible to put on a Cowboys uniform.
But, at least, he is back.
Gregory, 27, is coming off his fourth suspension for violation of the NFL's substances of abuse policy, and he has failed or missed at least six tests with the Cowboys. He has played in 28 games in five seasons with the Cowboys. In 2018, he played 14 games and recorded six sacks.
