49ers place Aldon Smith on non-football illness list

The San Francisco 49ers placed troubled Pro Bowl outside linebacker Aldon Smith on the reserve-non-football injury list with the player taking a leave of absence to head to in-patient rehab following his arrest for driving under the influence early Friday morning.

"Aldon Smith is taking a leave of absence to address a personal matter,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. “The 49ers organization both respects and supports Aldon’s decision and commends him for taking responsibility for his actions. The long-term well-being of our players is paramount and we will stand by Aldon as he works toward addressing this issue. Due to the private nature of the matter, we will have no further comment.”

Added Smith: “I am taking a leave of absence to address my health. I am sorry that I have affected my team, my family and the organization. I will do everything in my power to handle this situation the best way possible. I appreciate the support of the 49ers and our fans.”

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Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun

Aaron Wilson
Aaron Wilson covers the NFL for National Football Post, his second stint at the Post. He has previously written for Pro Football Talk and FOX Sports-Scout. Entering his 13th year covering the Baltimore Ravens, he's a beat writer for The Baltimore Sun. Wilson has also covered the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans.

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