Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington was recently conditionally reinstated by the NFL after what ended up being a three-year ban for repeated violations of the league's substance abuse policy. 

"Washington may join the Cardinals at the training facility and participate in meetings, conditioning work and similar activities," the NFL said in a statement. "Once arrangements have been confirmed regarding Washington's clinical resources in Phoenix, he will be permitted to participate in all preseason activities, including practices and games.

"Prior to the start of the regular season, the NFL will review Washington's progress. Based on his compliance and engagement with his program and resources, he will be permitted to participate in all regular season activities beginning in Week 1. He will be re-evaluated later in the season for full reinstatement."

The Cardinals released their own statement at the time as well.

"The National Football League today informed of us of Daryl Washington's conditional reinstatement," the team said. "Considering we have been prohibited from having any contact with him over the last three years, it would be premature today to discuss a potential return to the team. As everyone is aware, the 2017 NFL Draft is just days away, and that is where our energy and attention is fully focused right now. At the appropriate time, we will address the issue of Daryl Washington further."

The draft has now passed, and general manager Steve Keim spoke more about what needs to happen with Washington before the Cardinals welcome him back to the team. 

"To be quite honest with you, we have had dialogue with his agent, but have not have had a chance to talk with Daryl yet, just because of how busy we have been," Keim said, per the team's official website. "There will be a sit-down with Michael Bidwill, our president and owner, and myself and Coach Arians," he continued, "and again, more than anything, an educational briefing on 'Just where have you been the last three years, what's going on in your life?' Once that meeting occurs, there will be a decision made. It's been three years, and the way the system is set up right now, there is a lot of unknown."

Washington was most recently Arizona's starting middle linebacker when he was on the field. The team has obviously rebuilt itself in his absence, and now that he's 30 and returning from three years away from the game, he may not be able to make the same impact as he did before. There's also the matter of his guilty plea to aggravated assault in 2014, for which he has yet to be punished by the league. That could still be forthcoming.

In other words, there's a lot that needs to happen before we see Washington back on the field again, whether with the Cardinals or somebody else.