Aldon Smith's shoulder surgery isn't expected to impact his status for training camp according to San Francisco head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Aldon Smith injury update: 49ers star will be back for training camp
Aldon Smith is recovering from labrum surgery, but the injury isn’t likely to linger into next season.
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Smith, who finished second in the NFL with 19.5 sacks last season, underwent surgery to repair the torn labrum he suffered last season. While Harbaugh said a labrum injury will take time to heal, he expects Smith to be ready for the beginning of training camp in July.
Smith appeared on the injury report beginning in Week 12, but did not miss a game in the regular season or playoffs. He participated in some MMA training in February where he showed signs of being injured. Harbaugh said the injury did not occur during Smith’s offseason MMA workouts.
The injury may have impacted Smith’s play last season as after recording 15 sacks through the first 11 games of the season, Smith posted 4.5 sacks in the final nine games after appearing on the injury report. The injury will affect Smith’s ability to workout this offseason, but according to Harbaugh Smith appears to be psychically maturing.
“This is just an observation, but he’s changing,” Harbaugh said, according to CSN Bay Area. “He’s maturing. You can see it in his face and his body. He’s kind of going from that lad -- kind of a strong, very mature lad -- to a grown man. I think that’s another good thing.”
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