Alex Smith returned to a limited practice on Thursday, as expected.

Smith gained clearance on Wednesday. "If there were any doubt, he wouldn't have been out there," writes CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco. "Expect him to play." Smith has two more days of practice to prepare for the Bears on Monday night. All signs point to him starting in Week 11.

Alex Smith (concussion) has been cleared for non-contact drills.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the 49ers "feel pretty good" that Alex Smith (concussion) will be able to start against the Bears Monday.

A league source tells Profootballtalk.com that Alex Smith is seeking a second opinion on his concussion.

It's an unusual move for such a cut-and-dry injury - either you're concussed or you're not - but perhaps Smith believes his concussion is of the "mild" variety. With the 49ers playing on Monday Night Football, Smith has an extra day to see doctors and get cleared. The 49ers don't return to practice until Thursday. We tentatively expect Smith to be under center against the Bears.

Although no final decisions have been made on Alex Smith's (concussion) Week 11 status, ESPN's Adam Schefter indicated on Monday Night Countdown that the 49ers are optimistic about his availability.

"Unlike Jay Cutler and Michael Vick, Alex Smith does not have a documented history of concussions," Schefter noted. "Therefore, the 49ers have not given up hope that he could play next Monday night against Chicago. He slept well last night, felt good today. He was scheduled to visit a neurologist this afternoon." Smith will have to pass the NFL's protocol testing in order to gain clearance. But so far, so good. We'll know more later in the week.

Alex Smith (concussion) is "doing much better" after experiencing blurred vision in Sunday's tie.

"(He's) doing much better, had a good night's sleep last night," coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday. "And symptoms are positive today. He's visiting with a neurologist later this afternoon." Harbaugh's comments lay the groundwork for Smith to suit up for next Monday's game against the Bears, though the first real clue as to his status will come when the 49ers return to practice on Thursday. Owners in two-QB leagues can tentatively expect Smith to play in Week 11.

Alex Smith's Week 10 concussion occurred on a 4th-and-1 quarterback sneak in the second quarter of Sunday's tie with the Rams.

Typing "tie" feels weird. Nevertheless, Smith stayed in Sunday's game for six more plays before reporting "blurred vision" on the sideline and did not return. Colin Kaepernick closed out the contest, completing 11-of-17 passes for 117 yards with 66 rushing yards and a touchdown. Smith has an extra day to receive Week 11 clearance because the 49ers face the Bears on Monday night.

Alex Smith was forced from San Francisco's Week 10 game against the Rams with an upper-body injury.

Alex Smith (finger) is listed as probable for Week 10.

Alex Smith (finger) practiced in full on Wednesday.

Smith has been on the injury report with the finger issue for the past few weeks, but he is in no danger of missing Week 10 against the Rams. San Francisco is one of the league's healthier teams.

Alex Smith completed 18-of-19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns in the 49ers' Week 8, 24-3 victory over the Cardinals on Monday night.

49ers OC Greg Roman hinted after Thursday night's 13-6 win that Alex Smith's struggles the past two games have been at least partially due to the finger injury through which Smith is playing.

"Alex is still working his way back into form," Roman said, "so we have to manufacture things in the meantime." After throwing eight touchdown passes compared to just one interception in San Francisco's first four games, Smith has a 1:4 TD-to-INT ratio in the past two. Smith now gets an extra long rest period to get the finger right before the Niners' next game. "It's going to help our whole team," coach Jim Harbaugh said of the 11-day layoff. "First just getting rest and let the bodies come back."

Alex Smith completed 14-of-23 passes for 140 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in Week 7 against the Seahawks.

It was another shaky game for Smith. He overthrew several receivers, and he couldn't do much of anything aside from checking down to Frank Gore and hitting Michael Crabtree for slight gains on screens and slants. Smith's interception came on a hideous throw where he tried to force it to Randy Moss in the end zone in the second half. He's thrown four interceptions and no touchdowns in the last two weeks. San Fran travels to Arizona in 11 days for Monday Night Football.

Alex Smith (finger) is listed as probable for Thursday Night Football.

Smith and coach Jim Harbaugh have insisted his finger isn't a concern, but Smith is coming off his worst game of the Harbaugh era. Playing hurt, he's not a viable QB2 against Seattle's imposing pass defense.

Alex Smith completed 19-of-30 passes for 200 yards and three interceptions versus the Giants in Week 6.

One week after posting his best statistical game under Jim Harbaugh, Smith produced his worst. After throwing just five interceptions all of last season, the Giants got him for a hat trick on Sunday. The 49ers were forced to go away from their run-heavy game plan after halftime, and Smith's decision making and arm strength left a lot to be desired. A fantasy trend to watch is the increased use of Colin Kaepernick cutting into Smith's snaps and numbers. Smith has a tough matchup versus the Seahawks in Week 7.

Alex Smith (finger) practiced fully on Friday and is listed as probable for Week 6 against the Giants.

As expected, Smith is in no danger of missing Sunday's game. On the season, Smith has posted an 8:1 TD-to-INT ratio and is averaging 217 passing yards per game.

Alex Smith expressed no concern over the sprained middle finger on this throwing hand.

Smith got a full practice in on Wednesday. "It's one of those of things, the more you move it around and keep it going, it'll get better as the week goes on," he said. Smith will be under center, possibly with a little tape on the finger, against the Giants this week.

Alex Smith (throwing hand finger sprain) practiced in full on Wednesday.

Smith was injured in the 49ers' Week 5 win over the Bills but was never in real danger of missing Week 6 against the Giants. He's a low-upside QB2 in a run-heavy San Francisco offense on Sunday. The G-Men sport the league's No. 22 pass defense.

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh now believes Alex Smith (throwing hand finger sprain) is "fine."

Harbaugh came to the conclusion after watching Smith throw on Tuesday. Harbaugh said Monday the injury was "very much of a concern," but Smith is clearly in no danger of missing Sunday's game against the Giants, and likely won't even be inhibited. He's a low-upside QB2.

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh says Alex Smith's finger injury is "very much of a concern."

"We'll see how it is," Harbaugh said. "Alex, it's well-documented how tough he is. He talks about it not being a big deal. So we'll see." A source told Profootballtalk Monday the injury is "nothing at all," so it sounds like Harbaugh might just be trying to keep the Giants on their toes. We'll get our first real clue as to Smith's status when the Niners return to practice Wednesday.