SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The list of San Francisco 49ers players who have missed significant time to injuries this season is a star-studded one.

Brock Purdy. Nick Bosa. Fred Warner. George Kittle. Brandon Aiyuk.

Despite the absences of those stars and several other key players for long stretches this season, the Niners find themselves in the thick of the NFC playoff race headed into their bye week.

San Francisco (9-4) currently sits in seventh place in the conference and remains in the running for the NFC West title and a possible first-round bye in the playoffs thanks in part to role players brought in by general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan's ability to adapt.

“I think, looking from the outside in, if people had said you would be 9-4 going into the bye, and you’re no

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