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The 49ers won’t have linebacker Aldon Smith back in the lineup this week despite some optimistic reports about his chances of having his nine-game suspension for violations of the league’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies, but they know that he’ll be back with the team next week when the suspension runs its course.

While the team surely would have preferred to have him back sooner rather than later, coach Jim Harbaugh focused on the positives of Smith’s forthcoming return when he met the media on Wednesday.

“The positive is Aldon is very close to returning to practice and excited about that,” Harbaugh said, via CSNBayArea.com. “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, he’s doing a fine job. Proud of that. Proud of him.”

The fact that Smith’s been able to be around the team during his suspension should help his transition back to the active roster next week, although any specific plans for his return to the lineup will likely remain known only to the 49ers until closer to Smith’s first game back.