San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has revealed that Aldon Smith will feature against the Carolina Panthers this weekend.
The linebacker has practised with the team for the first time in six weeks, having taken leave from the team so enter rehab.
Fangio told the team's website: "I'm sure he'll play some. We're monitoring the situation. If nothing happens between now and then, I'm anticipating that, but nothing is etched in stone yet.
"He may not be ready conditioning-wise. Every game takes on its own personality. How many plays you play in a row, how many plays you play in different packages, so it'll be a fluid situation.
"He was a little rusty obviously from the six-week lay-off, but I expect him to get it back very quickly. It's not like he's a guy coming back from an injury. He just has to overcome inactivity. Six weeks is a fairly long time, but not so long to where he can't come back and get into the swing of things pretty quickly."
Smith has made 18 tackles and 4.5 sacks during the three games that he has played in so far this season.
Sian Cowper
