Randy Gregory hasn’t played in a game for the Dallas Cowboys since the 2018 postseason due to an indefinite suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. He was conditionally reinstated back in September and has been allowed to participate in meetings and workout, and returned to the practice field a few weeks ago.

The former second-round pick was removed from the commissioner’s exempt list on Tuesday and is now eligible to play this Sunday when the Cowboys take on the Washington Football Team.

Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy spoke to the media after the talented pass rusher was added to the active roster.

“Randy’s going to have the opportunity to prepare to play this week,” McCarthy said Tuesday. “So we’ll see how the week of preparation goes, but I thought he had an excellent week last week in practice.”

His return is desperately needed for a Cowboys defense that is on pace to be historically bad. They have given up the fifth-most points through six games in NFL history. They’re 27th in yards allowed per game and are ranked 32nd in rushing yards (173.3) and points per game (36.3).

The last time Gregory played he began to show the talent that made him one of the top pass rushers coming into the NFL in 2015. He finished second on the team with six sacks and also logged two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 14 games.

Gregory has only played 28 games since entering the NFL. However, it didn’t stop the Cowboys from signing him to a one-year extension in September worth up to $2.1million with a signing bonus of $200,000.

His return back to the field has been highly anticipated. In March, he told Patrik Walker of CBS that when he did come back that it wouldn’t be short-lived.

“I will be back this year,” Gregory said. “Difference is, I’ll be back for good this time.”

The wait is finally over and now Gregory can begin his road to redemption and hopefully assist in turning around a pedestrian Cowboys defense.