The Cowboys are keeping Josh Brent around Dallas beyond this season.
The defensive tackle signed a one-year contract extension through 2015 at the minimum, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported, according to a source who has seen the deal.
Brent is still serving a 10-game suspension. The suspension is part of the 26-year-old being conditionally reinstated by the NFL following his conviction on an intoxication manslaughter charge, which stemmed from a 2012 accident in which Cowboys practice squad member Jerry Brown was killed.
Brent returned to practice this week and will be eligible to make his on-field debut Nov. 23 against the New York Giants. Owner Jerry Jones raved about Brent on Friday.
"Josh had a day yesterday of days," Jones said on KRLD-FM, per The Dallas Morning News. "He was outstanding. We were all encouraged by what we saw yesterday."
Jones promised Jerry Brown's mother following her son's death that he wouldn't turn his back on Brent. The owner has made good on that promise, keeping the defensive tackle around the team.
Rapoport points out that Brent could have possibly made more than the minimum next season on the open market if he played well to close this year. The contract could be Brent returning the loyalty Jones has shown.
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