As expected, Justin Smith’s injury won’t prevent the workhorse defensive end from missing any playing time, or even any of San Francisco’s preseason training camp: he’ll be recovered from triceps surgery and ready to go by the end of July, reports Matt Barrow for the Sacramento Bee.
Justin Smith injury update: 49ers star expected back in late July
Justin Smith’s triceps surgery shouldn’t carry over into 2013, as he’s expected to be cleared for training camp that starts in late July.
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Smith played in every game from 2002 until towards the end of this last season, when he missed the year’s final two games with a partially torn triceps. He fought through the pain to play in every game of the 49ers’ NFC Championship run, including the Super Bowl, although he seemed less and less effective as the playoffs went on. After getting surgery shortly after the end of the year, he was supposed to take three months for rehab.
If his rehab does go until July, that means it will have taken a bit longer than expected, but it shouldn’t be an issue if he’s 100 percent by training camp and the regular season. It seems to be going well, as Barrow reports Smith no longer needs constant protection for the arm. The four-time Pro Bowler is obviously expected to be a cog of a defense that’s looking to win one more game in 2013 than they did in 2012.
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