



Aldon Smith will have a chance to state his case for reinstatement.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Oakland Raiders linebacker is setting up a meeting with league commissioner Roger Goodell or a "high-ranking official" to discuss the possibility of him being reinstated.

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Smith was banished from the NFL for one year after violating the league's substance-abuse policy multiple times. He was due to receive a response from Goodell on his pending reinstatement last Friday.

For the Raiders, a decision is better late than never. Even though it is unlikely to happen, Smith is reportedly prepared to play against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, if he is reinstated in time for that matchup.

On Sunday, it was reported that Smith's reinstatement was "unlikely" and that the Raiders were starting to move on. The latest news of this meeting between Smith and the league may give the team new hope that the star pass rusher could come back in 2016.

Smith, who appears to be in great shape, has 47.5 career sacks in 59 games played with the Raiders and San Francisco 49ers since 2011. The former seventh-overall draft pick out of Missouri was named first-team All-Pro in 2012, the year he finished second in the NFL with 19.5 sacks.

If he does, in fact, return to the Raiders this season, Smith will join a pass rush that already features Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin on the edges. Teams will have a tough time stopping all three of these playmakers.

Follow Kevin Boilard on Twitter: @247KevinBoilard