After nearly a year long hiatus from football, Oakland Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith has applied for reinstatement back into the NFL, general manager Reggie McKenzie told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Smith’s year long-suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy will officially end on Nov. 17, but whether or not the former 49er will be able to rejoin the Raiders rests in the hands of commissioner Roger Goodell, who will meet with Smith following the Nov. 17 deadline. League sources have said that Smith is out of rehab.
‘Aldon is doing well,” McKenzie told the Chronicle. “That situation is going to be totally up to the league because he’s been in the program and they’ve monitored him. It’s up to Goodell to say yah, nay or when. And he could say no to everything … that part is out of our hands.”
McKenkie’s information regarding Smith’s status is not coming from the player directly, as league policy stipulates that the Raiders cannot directly communicate with Smith until the suspension is over. McKenzie has reportedly been in contact with Smith’s agent Doug Hendrickson.
“Aldon is working out and getting ready,” McKenzie said. “He is in a great place and that’s the main thing. Whether Goodell lets him out or not, that’s the important thing – that he’s healthy and happy. But I would hope that we as a league reward a guy – with stipulations – who goes through the right steps and wants to get better and get his life in order.”
Smith’s most recent rehab stint is his second in three years, first going into treatment following two DUI arrests in 2013 that lead to a nine-game suspension in 2014. The 49ers finally released Smith in August 2015 after his fifth arrest in three seasons.
Smith, 27, signed with Oakland in September of last year and re-signed on April 4, 2016. He had 3.5 sacks in nine games with the Raiders before his suspension, and was considered one of the best pass rushers in the league in San Francisco, with 44.5 sacks in 50 games with the 49ers.