If there's a plus to the San Francisco 49ers dealing with so many injuries at the start of the season, it's the fact many of those injured players are poised to return in time for the playoff-crunch run.
And the Niners are still 4-1 after five weeks, first in the NFC West.
One of the few positives from 2024's otherwise dreadful year was then-rookie safety Malik Mustapha, whose Week 17 ACL tear was something of a shocker when the injury was revealed at the NFL Draft the following April.
The Niners responded by using a day-three pick on defensive back Marques Sigle, and while the rookie has been promising at various points, there is clearly a difference between him and Mustapha's prowess.