The NFL did not reduce the suspension of San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith, but coach Jim Harbaugh is excited about getting him back next week.
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The NFL opted not to reduce the suspension of San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith, who is not eligible to return until next week when the 49ers visit the New York Giants on Nov. 16.
But coach Jim Harbaugh is excited about getting his pass-rush specialist back from the nine-game ban Smith received for violations of the league’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies.
"“The positive is Aldon is very close to returning to practice and excited about that,” Harbaugh told Comcast Sports Net Bay Area. “He knows now that it’ll take place next week. My understanding is that he’s done a very fine job.“There’s a timeframe. He has been conditioning. He has been working out and attending meetings. Everybody I’ve talked to, from my vantage point, said he’s doing a fine job. Proud of that. Proud of him.”"
The 49er pass rush could use the boost. San Francisco is tied for 25th in the league with 13 sacks through eight games.
Last season, when Smith played in 11 games, he had 8½ sacks of San Francisco’s total of 38, which tied for 18th in the NFL.
The seventh overall pick in the 2011 draft out of Missouri, Smith just missed the NFL record for sacks by a rookie that season, finishing with 14. Javon Kearse had 14½ sacks as a rookie with the Tennessee Titans in 1999.
The sack has only been recognized as an official statistic by the NFL since 1982.
Smtih was an All-Pro in 2012 after setting a club record with 19½ sacks.
In three seasons, Smith has 42 sacks, third-most of any player in his first three years in the league, trailing Hall of Famers Reggie White (52) and Derrick Thomas (43½), according to Pro Football Reference.com.
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