4 49ers who could return from injured lists after bye week

It's better late than never for the San Francisco 49ers with their 2025 bye week.

After 13 consecutive weeks of football, the 49ers will finally get a week off in Week 14 with a chance to get healthy for the stretch run. While a handful of active players are expected to return immediately or shortly after the week away, there are four players on injured lists eligible to return.

With some time off and a bonus Monday practice after Sunday's Week 14 action, this is a prime opportunity for San Francisco to open some players' 21-day practice windows. At the end of the 21-day window they'll either have to activate the player or put them on season-ending IR. With the season entering its final quarter and the added day of practice, this is as good a time as any for the 49ers to try and get see whether they can get contributions from anyone residing on an injured list.

Here are the four players eligible to return after the bye:

DE Yetur Gross-Matos

Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Monday said the team hopes to get Gross-Matos back from his hamstring injury in time for him to suit up against the Tennessee Titans in Week 15. Gross-Matos has dealt with a knee injury throughout the season, but he was managing that well when he pulled up with a hamstring issue in Week 5. A fully healthy Gross-Matos gives San Francisco some much-needed, versatile depth on the defensive line.

WR Brandon Aiyuk

It's unclear what in the world is happening with Aiyuk as his 49ers tenure apparently comes to a close. When he's ready to return, the 49ers will open his window. Allegedly. "Brandon's just week-to-week," Shanahan said on Nov. 17. "When he had such a big injury like that, just waiting until he is fully comfortable to come up and start practicing.”

WR Jacob Cowing

Cowing has been out for the entire season because of a bad hamstring injury he sustained in the preseason. The second-year, fourth-round pick is likely to come back when the 49ers return to practice after their week away according to the Nov. 17 update from Shanahan.

QB Kurtis Rourke

The rookie seventh-round pick has been on the Non-Football Injury list since training camp while recovering from an ACL tear he played through in college. Shanahan in mid-November said Rourke's window would likely be opened at some point during the season. "We’ll open up his window eventually to give him his three weeks of practice and decide what to do from there," Shanahan said. With Mac Jones firmly entrenched as the backup and Adrian Martinez holding down the practice squad QB spot, it wouldn't be a surprise if the 49ers let Rourke's practice window expire before putting him on season-ending IR.

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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 4 49ers who could return from injured lists after bye week