ALAMEDA — Aldon Smith was talking to the media again.

He was even smiling again, a couple of times breaking into laughter during Wednesday’s pre-practice interview.

And on the field, he’s producing again, registering his most effective game as a Raider in the loss at Chicago.

Altogether, it’s enough to conclude — with all the reluctance one can muster — that Smith is in a good place. No doubt, that is hope talking. That is how things appear when you’ve got a piece of utopia stuck in your eye. But it fits with the theme of the Raiders season so far. Things seem better. Smith seems better.

“It’s good,” Smith, 26, said. “Happy I’m out here. Good group of guys, a lot of cool, funny personalities. So it’s all good for me.”

So far. The Raiders’ plan for saving the controversial former 49er, who has been arrested five times since entering the NFL in 2011, looks to be working.

Smith, who missed all of training camp and signed with the Raiders two days before the season opener, said he’s feeling acclimated. He has worked off the rust. He has a better grasp on the system. His exceptional talent is starting to shine.

It could all come crashing down. It has before. That is Smith’s existence now, trying to thrive while being stalked by destruction. One more drink, one more arrest, one more bad decision, and it all can be over.

The NFL can still suspend him, justifiably, for his last incident — an Aug. 6 arrest in Santa Clara that prompted the 49ers to waive the star defensive player. Smith pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor DUI, hit-and-run and vandalism two weeks ago. But the NFL doesn’t have to wait for the legal outcome to snatch this season away from Smith, who was suspended nine games last year with the 49ers for violating the league’s policy on personal conduct and substances of abuse.

But in the meantime, Smith appears to be making good on his attempts to rebuild his reputation and reclaim his mantle as an All-Pro level defender. And the Raiders appear to be making good on providing a structured, fruitful environment.

If Smith plays a key role in the Raiders finally beating the Peyton Manning-led Broncos, then the Raiders gamble to bring on the troubled Smith would look even better.

On Sunday, he had as good a game as any outside linebacker. It was the first glimpse of the No. 99 that made the 49ers so, shall we say, patient.

“I’m not just a pass rusher,” Smith said. “I’m overall a defensive player. Stopping the run is something I take pride in just as well as getting to the quarterback, so if you want to run at me, good luck. I’ll stop the run just like I try to stop the pass.”

But against Denver, they’ll need Smith the elite pass rusher against Manning.

“Any time you get a guy down that doesn’t go down that much,” Smith said after a laugh, “it makes you feel good.”

Only time will tell how serious Smith is about his recovery. If this period of progress is just the calm before the inevitable Aldon storm. And Smith’s willingness to answer football-only questions doesn’t suggest he has this accountability thing completely figured out.

When the 49ers released Smith, whom they drafted No. 7 overall in 2011, coach Jim Tomsula made a passionate plea to hurting souls under the sound of his voice to get help. He told them they don’t have to go through it alone and they are worth more than they know.

The implication was that Smith, whose latest trouble prompted the Tomsula monologue, had spurned help. That Smith didn’t fully comprehend his worth. That he was in a place that breaks the heart of those who love him.

The outcry was that he shouldn’t play again. He needed help. He wasn’t worthy of this NFL privilege.

Fast forward two months, Smith is smiling again.

He is coming into his own as a Raider. He has garnered the favor of his teammates. He has avoided more trouble. He is picking up his game on the field. Perhaps the Raiders have done a commendable job of steadying a sinking ship. Or this is all a ruse at risk for blowing up in the Raiders face.

Either way, so far so good.

Read Marcus Thompson II’s blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/thompson. Contact him at mthomps2@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ThompsonScribe.