Raiders Aren’t Counting On Aldon Smith Returning This Year, NFL To Have Decision On Reinstatement Soon

Update:

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, citing a source with knowledge of the process, reports that the 60-day deadline for the NFL to decide whether or not reinstate suspended Raiders OLB Aldon Smith came and went on Friday without a decision from the league. However, Florio’s source said that the NFL is expected to have a decision at some point in the near future.

The Raiders have an upcoming game against the Chiefs, which would make it tough for Smith to get ready for their big matchup with the Chiefs. Although, a source tells Florio that Smith will be ready to suit up if he’s cleared in the coming days.

We’ll have more regarding Smith returning to the Raiders as the news is available.

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Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Raiders are not counting on suspended OLB Aldon Smith returning this year. Sources tell Rapoport that with just a month to go in the regular season, it seems unlikely Smith will be back with the Raiders.

Rapoport mentions that Smith has participated in all of the required meetings and even extended his rehab by 60 days. Smith is still hoping tot meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell but no meeting has been scheduled as of now.

The NFL was expected to respond to Smith’s application for reinstatement at some point this week. However, it appears as though the league is in no rush to reinstate Smith.

Smith applied for a return to the NFL back on October 3, which gave NFL commissioner Roger Goodell 60 days to render a decision.

The NFL is still expected to look into whether the Periscope video that appears to show him a hand-rolled cigarette violated the protocols required for a suspended player to be reinstated.

Smith entered a rehab facility soon after the video surfaced and spent 120 days there.

Smith, 27, is a former first-round pick of the 49ers back in 2010. He was cut loose by the 49ers shortly after a DUI incident last year, even though San Francisco picked up his fifth-year option.

Smith later signed a one-year deal with the Raiders that was worth up to $8 million, which was largely incentive-based. Oakland elected to re-sign Smith to a two-year, $11.5 million contract this past April, despite the fact that he was going to miss a large portion of the 2017 season.

In 2015, Smith has recorded 28 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, and three pass defenses over the course of nine games. Pro Football Focus currently rates Smith as the No. 33 edge defender out of 110 qualifying players.