SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Part of the process for the San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker to rejoin the team following a five-week stint in rehab included a verbal commitment to the NFL that he would stay out of trouble and keep clean. "I think any time we could all look into our lives and find something we need to work on," Smith said Tuesday, seemingly relaxed. "Ive taken my time and Ive done that." A clean-cut Smith -- hair trimmed from his previous long, curly cut -- returned to the 49ers locker room after his long absence and five missed games to cheers from teammates who chanted his first name. Everybody knows what he means to this franchise and defence -- and the 49ers are hopeful he is as healthy as he looks and ready to return to the field as soon as Sundays home game with Carolina. "Im getting there. Every days just a step closer to getting to where I want to be," Smith said at his locker after practice. "Ive gotten a lot of support, from my family, friends, organization, teammates and everything. And it really says a lot that people care about me outside the field and they care about me as a person." Smith had been on an indefinite paid leave of absence before being activated to the 53-man roster Thursday, two days after he turned himself in to Santa Clara County authorities on weapons charges. He met last Wednesday with team officials. The fearsome pass-rusher is in shape despite a couple of extra pounds gained during his stint at an in-patient treatment centre for substance abuse. He was at a facility outside California, he said, while declining to offer further details. He said he returned to the Bay Area on Oct. 28 after entering rehab in late September -- and he was away for his 24th birthday Sept. 25. Defensive teammate and fellow linebacker Patrick Willis is among those who sent periodic text messages to Smith during his time away. "Aldon has been a guy since he came in who has been very productive for our defence, has been a playmaker for our defence," Willis said. "To get him back is a good thing, then, too, with his absence we were able to develop some depth with some of the other guys. Its really going to be a strong point for us. When you have a guy such as Aldon with his talent, the biggest thing we can do for him is just let him know were here for him, let him know that were his teammates, but the main thing is just let him grow on his own." Smith played in a 27-7 home loss to the Colts on Sept. 22 and had five tackles just two days after he was arrested and jailed on suspicion of DUI and marijuana possession. He apologized for his behaviour after the game then later announced he would leave for treatment. San Francisco (6-2) has won five straight games in impressive fashion without him. Also in September, Smith and former teammate Delanie Walker were named in a lawsuit filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court by a Northern California man who said he was shot at a party at Smiths house on June 29, 2012. Smith, selected seventh overall in the 2011 draft out of Missouri, had previously been arrested on suspicion of DUI in January 2012 in Miami shortly after the 49ers lost in the NFC championship game. Now, Smith is moving forward. Hes thrilled to be reunited with not only his team but also his 10-month-old son, Aulis. "He looks good, man," running back Frank Gore said. "Im a big fan of Aldon, a young guy who has the potential to be one of the best at the position. Im happy hes back with the family. I know he can help our team, so thats great." While Smith is scheduled for court appearances each of the next two Tuesdays, he expects to be in practice. Smith was charged Oct. 9 with three felony counts of illegal possession of an assault weapon, stemming from that party at his home in June 2012. "Of course, I didnt want to be away from the sport I love. But it was good for me to get away and get my mind together and work, like I say, just to get to the positive spot I need to be at," he said. "I caught some of the games, some that were broadcast over there. So I was able to keep up with the guys and chime in here and there and wish them good luck." Smith had a franchise-record 19 1/2 sacks last season for the NFC champions. He has 4 1/2 sacks and 18 tackles over three games in 2013. "Im just taking it one day at a time, getting back here, being around the guys and just getting my life back at home," Smith said. Also Tuesday, leading 2012 wideout Michael Crabtree was cleared to resume practicing following May surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon. The 49ers now have three weeks to activate him. 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This week, topics cover the Blue Jays rotation, the futures John Gibbons and Alex Anthopoulos, protecting pitchers and a bonus question on his predictions for the MLB playoffs.Patrick Chan will know exactly where he stands when he takes to the ice for the mens free skate Friday evening at the Iceberg Skating Palace, although he may want to block out the crowd reaction. Thats because the Toronto native will once again follow Japanese dynamo Yuzuru Hanyu, who leads after the short program in Sochi. The 23-year-old Canadian will skate fourth, immediately follow Hanyu. In the short program, Chan competed two skaters after his 19-year-old rival. Chan will skate to The Four Seasons by Vivaldi in the hopes of making up a deficit of 3.93 points. Javier Fernandez of Spain, currently sitting in third place, will be the first skater to hit the ice in the final group of six. Like Hanyu, Fernandez is coached by Canadian Brian Orser, the 1988 Olympic silver medallist. Fernandez is followed by Daisuke Takahashi. The former world champion and 22010 Olympic bronze medallist from Japan is in fourth place.dddddddddddd The random draw in the Olympic setup has resulted in the regrettable result that the fifth- and sixth-place skaters end the show. Those competitors are Peter Liebers of Germany and Jason Brown of the United States. While they have a chance at reaching the podium, its highly unlikely they could make up enough ground to win the competition. Many figure skating observers believed veteran Brian Joubert should have been in the final grouping on the basis of a strong short program, but the Frenchman will instead be near the beginning of the penultimate group. Kevin Reynolds of Coquitlam, B.C. will be up 12th in the free skate, which gets underway at 10 a.m. ET. Reynolds gamely persevered after hitting the deck twice in the short, leading to a 17th-place showing. 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