San Francisco 49ers Activate Aldon Smith From NFI List

Sep 8, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith (99) celebrates after forcing a quarterback fumble against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

UPDATED: Oct. 31 at 2:30 p.m.

Linebacker Aldon Smith was activated from the reserve/non-football injury list today, a day after meeting with San Francisco 49ers officials, as well as teammates who were at the Santa Clara facility during the bye week, after completing a stint at a treatment center for substance abuse issues.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, via Twitter:

According to SFGate.com, there is no timetable for Smith’s return to the field, but coach Jim Harbaugh was happy to see his pass-rushing standout. Smith has been on the reserve/non-football injury list since Sept. 23, the day after he played in a loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

"“It was great to see the reaction of others who saw him and Aldon’s reaction of being back here with some of the guys,” Harbaugh told 95.7 The Game on Wednesday. “He looks great and we’re having a good day. I mean that was the object of today, let’s have a great day. I think that’s the way Aldon’s approaching things.”"

Smith reportedly turned himself in to Santa Clara County law enforcement officials on Tuesday night and was almost immediately freed on bail.

According to NBC Bay Area’s website, a source close to the case said Smith is scheduled to appear in court on felony weapons charges on Nov. 12. He also faces a Nov. 19 court date on DUI and drug charges.

Smith was freed on $75,000 bail after turning himself in shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday, according to the source. Surrendering himself to authorities was part of a deal Smith made with Santa Clara County district attorney Jeff Rosen at the time he was charged on Oct. 9 with possession of illegal assault weapons.

Smith was in a rehabilitation facility at the time in the wake of his September DUI arrest. The agreement was that Smith would turn himself in on the weapons charges before the end of this month.

Those charges stem from a house party hosted by Smith in June 2012 where he was stabbed and two other people were shot. Deputies later found a cache of assault rifles, ammunition and magazines.

The good news is that Smith is out of rehab and is following through on agreements he made to navigate his complicated web of legal troubles.

At this point, that is a far more important concern for Smith and the 49ers than wondering when he will be back on the field.

Harbaugh wouldn’t speculate about that.

"“I think the prudent thing to do is look at it day-to-day and have a goal of having a great day,” Harbaugh said. “He’s been taking that approach … over the last five weeks. And it’s served him well and he’s made quite a bit of progress."

“So, I don’t see any reason to change that and now flip a switch and start saying, ‘This needs to take place next week and this the next week and let’s predict how it’s going to be three or four or five weeks from now.’”