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For most 49ers players, the bye week will give them some much-needed rest and relaxation.
For a not insignificant number of them, though, it will be the furthest thing from a week off.
On his weekly conference call with reporters on Monday, Kyle Shanahan listed off more than a half dozen names who could return from injuries after the 49ers’ bye.
That is, he added, if all goes well while the rest of the team is away from the facility this week.
It will be a crucial week for stars such as Nick Bosa and Mike Evans, as well as important depth receivers Deebo Samuel and Demarcus Robinson, linebackers Luke Gifford and Garrett Wallow, defensive tackle C.J. West and safety Marques Sigle.
“All those guys have a chance after the bye week, but none are guaranteed,” Shanahan said. “Big week of rehab for all of them, so we’ll see where they’re at next week at the beginning of the week.”
Christian McCaffrey should also be on track to play next Sunday against the Raiders after briefly leaving the 29-20 loss in Atlanta in the first half. While the 49ers initially believed he suffered a thigh injury, further tests revealed what Shanahan described as a “mild” hamstring strain.
“You never know for sure,” Shanahan said, but he was “pretty optimistic” about McCaffrey’s chances to play the next time the 49ers take the field.
Without Evans this past week, McCaffrey played a big role on the 49ers’ opening touchdown drive, accounting for 69 yards from scrimmage. But he netted only 31 the rest of the game as he battled what he described afterward as a “dead” thigh.
Between the bye and his absence last week, Evans will have three full weeks to recover from the Achilles tendinitis that forced him to miss the second half last Monday.
Bosa hasn’t played — or practiced — since straining his calf warming up for a practice on Sept. 24, after their Week 2 win over the Dolphins. That was the same week that Robinson suffered a high-ankle sprain that resulted in him being placed on injured reserve.
West was also placed on injured reserve with a knee issue in Week 3. He and Robinson were both eligible to be activated off IR for the first time this past Sunday.
Samuel and Wallow both strained their hamstrings in the 49ers’ Week 5 win over the Seahawks, while Gifford has been dealing with a groin issue that kept him out against the Falcons.
Sigle had been the starting safety opposite Ji’Ayir Brown, but Malik Mustapha has capitalized on his absence with a high-ankle sprain and it remains to be seen how defensive coordinator Raheem Morris will fit all the pieces together once all three are healthy and available.
Their top nickelback, Upton Stout, should also be back after being held out Sunday with a shoulder injury, despite being listed as questionable.
It’s a good problem to have for a team that was barely able to suit up 48 players — and only four receivers — in their final game before the bye week.
Safe to say, the 49ers should be in much better shape the next time they take the field.
