San Francisco 49ers not counting on Aldon Smith returning this season
By Bryan Rose
Dealing with his recovery from alcoholism and now facing potential felony weapons charges, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith has a lot on his plate.
The team is well aware of this and according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, do not expect the young talent to return to the team this season.
"With Aldon Smith in rehab and facing felony charges of possession of assault weapons, 49ers are not counting on him returning this year."
The initial prognosis for Smith’s return from rehab was at least a month, but nobody (at least publicly) was expecting the potential felony charges which came just a few weeks after Smith began his rehab stint.
San Francisco’s defense has enough talent where losing Smith for the regular season is manageable, though, the loss of the power rusher come the playoffs (assuming the 49ers make it and Smith doesn’t return) will be felt.
The 24-year-old Missouri product has 38 sacks in 35 career games and had recently began playing more on rushing downs and dropping back in pass coverage, which was a part of his game he worked on all offseason.