The timing of the San Francisco 49ers' bye week could hardly have been better, with their Week 9 break coming off the back of a big primetime win and giving them several members of a roster severely beat up by injuries the chance to get healthy ahead of what figures to be a bruising stretch run.
San Francisco appears primed to be boosted by the return of reigning Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey, head coach Kyle Shanahan revealing on Monday that the 49ers are looking to open his practice window next week when they return from the bye.
McCaffrey's comeback from the Achilles tendinitis that has kept him out for the entire campaign will naturally give a substantial lift to the offense ahead of their Week 10 clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but just as important will be the potential return of a player on the defensive side of the ball who has also dealt with an Achilles issue.
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw has also been a spectator throughout the season to this point after tearing his Achilles in bizarre circumstances in Super Bowl 58 in February.
Fred Warner's running mate at linebacker has been sorely missed, with free agent signing De'Vondre Campbell struggling to replace the energy and playmaking ability Greenlaw has consistently provided since emerging as a fifth-round rookie sensation in 2019.
While Greenlaw won't be ready for Week 10, he is nearing a point where he will be healthy enough to get back on the field, Shanahan providing an encouraging update on Tuesday.
He told KNBR: "I think Dre is getting close. I don't want to put a timetable on it.
"I'd probably be surprised [if it was] right after the bye week, but I do think after that, it'll be close to being week-to-week, which means, if everything goes right, that'll be a sooner week than later week for whatever diagnosis that is."
The void left by Greenlaw has been clear for all to see. Yetur Gross-Matos does not have same profile as Greenlaw, but his absence since being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury suffered in Week 4 has had a negative impact on the defense.
It has robbed the 49ers of a versatile pass rusher with the ability to play on the inside as well as off the edge, and left their depth at defensive end looking thin to the point where they may have no choice but to acquire another via trade.
But Shanahan also expressed hope around his recovery, indicating his belief that Gross-Matos could be ready to return for a key divisional matchup the week after the Buccaneers game.
"I don't know if Yetur has a chance after the bye week, but I think similar, that if he's not ready for that, it'll be week-to-week after that," Shanahan said of Gross-Matos.
"And hopefully, at least by Seattle [Week 11]; that's what we're hoping for."
