The 49ers are a pretty healthy team right now, all things considered. Outside of the wide receiver position, they enter the bye with limited injuries, and including the wide receiver position, they should come out of it with even fewer. There are some key players, including four starters, on the injury list and they all should benefit from the soothing balm of a bye week and more time to prepare, as Matt Barrows of The Bee notes.
Braylon Edwards is far and away the biggest injury of note. He's missed the last four games with an injury, and with fellow receiver Josh Morgan off to injured reserve, it's even more imperative that he make his return sooner rather than later. Fortunately, Edwards told fans on Twitter that he expects to be back on Oct. 30 against the Cleveland Browns, which is the team's next game, following the bye week. Further evidence that Edwards may be coming back comes in the team's decision to release receiver Kerry Taylor from the practice squad and re-sign Chase Beeler.
Moran Norris, the team's starting fullback, is out with a fractured fibula. The bye week will give him some more time to recover, but so far there is no timetable on his return. He just got out of his boot on Monday and that's a good sign, though some fans would disagree. Many are happy with the work that rookie Bruce Miller has been doing, and it's likely that Norris won't take over full starting duties when he comes back. Instead, he might be called on for more impact blocking in short-yardage situations, which the team has been using Isaac Sopaga for somewhat frequently. It's also worth noting that Miller just had what most consider to be his worst game of the season against the Detroit Lions.
Tramaine Brock has been injured since week two against the Dallas Cowboys and might not get much playing time even when he does return. He was the team's nickel corner, but after a strong bid against the Lions, Chris Culliver might have taken over that role. Nobody knows quite what to expect out of Brock, who's only significant playing time has come this season. His agent says that he'll be back either after the bye or after the following game.
Other minor injuries occurred to starters Adam Snyder and Parys Haralson, and though it's unlikely they'd be kept out even with just a week to go, the bye week can only help them end up at 100% when the Browns come to town the following Sunday.