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Aldon Smith’s Week 1 Role Coming Into Focus

NFL News
September 12, 2015

The Raiders are sticking to their word of intending to play Aldon Smith two days after signing him to a one-year deal.

The mercurial pass-rusher will play in Raiders sub-packages, doing so mostly on third downs, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports.

Oakland is anxious to use Smith, who was released by the 49ers after his latest arrest, alongside emerging star Khalil Mack, La Canfora notes. The CBS-based scribe reports Smith’s snap count will depend on his physical readiness, with his array of speed-centric moves not requiring much scheming, hence the Raiders’ insistence on putting the former All-Pro into action immediately.

This could mean Smith at one edge spot and Mack at another in passing-down packages, with Justin Tuck sliding to the inside, as he did with the Giants. But this Mack-Smith pass-rushing union could also be shortlived and will almost certainly be interrupted this season.

Smith’s suspected suspension, which La Canfora categorizes as one that could be lengthy, is not expected to affect his playing status in Week 1. But a suspension appears likely to deter his path at some point this fall.

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