Ultimately, the pain of losing Super Bowl XLVII will be with Justin Smith longer than his pending surgery.

The San Francisco 49ers defensive end is expected to undergo surgery this week to repair a partially torn triceps that he played with during the postseason, according to Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area.

Smith suffered the injury on Dec. 16 and sat out the final two games of the regular season. He played with a brace on the left arm during the playoffs. It is expected to require about three months for him to rehabilitate from the surgery, meaning he could miss the beginning of the club’s offseason program.

Smith will be entering the final year of a contract that will pay him $8 million in 2013.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune