SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers have been informed that linebacker Aldon Smith’s nine-game suspension will not be shortened, meaning he will be eligible to return to the team Tuesday and play next Sunday against the New York Giants.

Despite reports the past two weeks that indicated the NFL was considering slicing Smith’s penalty a game or two for good behavior, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh did not consider Wednesday’s news to be a setback.

“The positive is Aldon is very close to returning to practice and I’m excited about that,” he said. “He knows now that that’ll take place next week.”

Bottom line: Smith has done everything asked of him during the suspension, Harbaugh noted.

“He has been conditioning. He has been working out … attending meetings,” the coach said. “Everybody that I talk to, everything from my vantage point, he’s doing a fine job. I’m proud of that, proud of him.”