There will be no jinxing on this site. Instead, this post is merely pointing out that the 49ers are a relatively healthy team heading into the bye and promise to be healthier coming out of it. Players like guard Mike Iupati (neck, knee) who have been nicked in recent weeks could use the six days off. Others with more serious injuries, such as receiver Braylon Edwards, are likely to return to practice after the bye. Here's a quick injury update along with projections on when players might return.
WR Braylon Edwards. Edwards has been out since suffering a meniscus tear in his right knee on Sept. 18 against Dallas. He had arthroscopic surgery later that week. Edwards has declined to comment to reporters on his injury or his date of return but wrote on Twitter last month that he was aiming to be back Oct. 30 against the Browns, one of his former teams. He was working with trainers on a side field last week during team practices. The 49ers recently made a change to their practice squad - releasing receiver Kerry Taylor and re-signing center Chase Beeler (more on Beeler below) - that suggests they will have Edwards back at practice soon. The team needed an extra wide receiver at practice to prepare for the Lions last week.
CB Tramaine Brock. Brock broke a bone in his left hand against the Cowboys. He played the rest of that game but was unable to grab or push off with the hand and it has been in a cast since Week 4. Brock's agent said the hope is that the cornerback will be able to return for the game against Cleveland or perhaps the following game, Nov. 6, at Washington. Brock was the team's no. 3 cornerback when he was injured. That role has been taken over by rookie Chris Culliver, who had a strong game against the Lions.
FB Moran Norris. Norris was out of his boot on Monday after suffering a fractured fibula. He wasn't sure of his exact return date, but he is obviously on the mend. The question when Norris returns will be how playing time is divided between him and rookie Bruce Miller, who has been a big part of the team's resurgent running game in recent weeks. Miller is quicker, is able to the second level of the defense faster and is a much better threat in the passing game. Norris is more powerful. It stands to reason that Norris will be used more in short-yardage situations when the 49ers send in their "jumbo" packages.
G Adam Snyder (stinger) and OLB Parys Haralson (hamstring) were injured Sunday against the Lions. Neither, however, is considered long term. And, of course, it needs to be noted that the 49ers don't reveal their injuries until they are required by the league to do so. Alex Smith's concussion, for example, wasn't divulged until the Wednesday after the game in which he was injured. The next time the 49ers will be required to file an injury report is a week from today. That is, there always is the possibility of a surprise.
• Regarding Chase Beeler ... The 49ers re-signed him to the practice squad this week in part because another team wanted to sign the former Stanford center to their practice squad. The 49ers like Beeler and feel that he will only get better after gaining strength during their off-season program. The feeling is mutual. Beeler didn't sign with the team that was pursing him - his agent declined to reveal that team - because he felt his long-tern prospects were best in San Francisco.
-- Matt Barrows
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