Steve Smith, who is dealing with microfractures in his back, has a chance to return to action in Week 6, the Baltimore Sun reports.

Smith, who is dealing with microfractures in his back, has a chance to return to action in Week 6, the Baltimore Sun reports.

Analysis:

Such an outcome is far from a lock though, with coach John Harbaugh having expressed a modest degree of optimism Monday with regard to the veteran wideout's chances of suiting up this weekend against the 49ers. "We'll see," Harbaugh noted of Smith, whose final Week 5 status apparently wasn't decided until game-time. "I don't know. He was in here training hard, so that's a good sign. I'm hopeful, very hopeful."