49ers get a much-needed time for healing

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Boy, this team needed a bye.

The 49ers’ one-week vacation comes at an opportune time, given their physical state after a 42-17 thrashing at Denver on Sunday night.

On defense, they were missing All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis (toe), starting cornerback Chris Culliver (hamstring) and No.3 cornerback Jimmie Ward (quadriceps). Cornerback Chris Cook (hamstring) then exited in the third quarter.

On offense, they were without All-Pro guard Mike Iupati (concussion) and lost center Daniel Kilgore to a season-ending broken ankle in the second half.

And this doesn’t include their players coming off injuries who operated at what appeared to be less than full strength: tight end Vernon Davis (two catches, 21 yards) and cornerback Tramaine Brock, who was beaten on two of Peyton Manning’s four touchdown passes.

Before Sunday, the 49ers’ defense had appeared largely immune to attrition. It entered Denver ranked second in the NFL in fewest yards allowed per game and sixth in fewest points given up per game, despite playing without All-Pro linebackers Aldon Smith and NaVorro Bowman and nose tackle Glenn Dorsey.

Manning exposed the weak spots. He had as many incompletions (four) as touchdown passes, and the Broncos scored six touchdowns on their first eight full drives before Manning exited after three quarters.

“It probably caught up to us today,” linebacker Ahmad Brooks said after the game. “We have a lot of key guys out.”

Denver’s Ronnie Hillman runs past the 49ers’ defense for a touchdown Sunday night, when the unit’s injury toll finally became too great to compensate. Denver’s Ronnie Hillman runs past the 49ers’ defense for a touchdown Sunday night, when the unit’s injury toll finally became too great to compensate. Photo: Jack Dempsey / Associated Press Photo: Jack Dempsey / Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close 49ers get a much-needed time for healing 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Some of those key guys, however, are expected to be ready after the bye for a home game against the Rams on Nov.2. That group includes Willis, Ward, Culliver and Iupati. In addition, Smith reportedly could be allowed to return early from a nine-game suspension. Instead of making his season debut Nov.16, he could return against the Rams or for a visit to New Orleans on Nov.9.

Smith, who has averaged the most sacks per game (0.98) of any player since sacks became an official statistic in 1982, could add ferocity to a middling pass rush: The 49ers rank 22nd in the NFL in sacks (12).

There has been plenty of no-excuses, next-man-up talk from the 49ers this season, but running back Frank Gore gave his typically honest assessment of the state of the team in the locker room Sunday night.

“When everybody gets back,” Gore said, “we’ll be fine.”

Even shorthanded, the 49ers (4-3) have emerged in relatively fine shape from a rugged opening stretch. Their first seven games were against teams sporting a combined 29-15 record. They went 2-2 against the Cowboys, Cardinals, Eagles and Broncos, the NFL’s four remaining one-loss teams who have a combined record of 21-4.

In contrast, none of the six teams the 49ers’ face in their next seven games has a winning record, and they have a combined 12-26 mark. That seven-game stretch does include two matchups against the Seahawks (3-3) and one against the Saints (2-4) — two expected NFC powers that have fallen short of expectations — but it’s still another reason for optimism looking to the second half of the regular season.

Late Sunday night, in a somber postgame locker room, Brooks was envisioning better days for a team that has had nine projected season-opening starters combine to miss 36 games.

“Hopefully, we will have another opportunity to face Peyton Manning and the Broncos, and that would be in the Super Bowl,” Brooks said. “So I’m going to claim it right now. Then we’ll have everybody back.”

Revolving door: The 49ers released special-teamer Bubba Ventrone and signed quarterback Josh Johnson, a week after they made the identical roster move. The 49ers have released Johnson three times this season. They want Johnson to have practice time, but have released him before three games to free up a roster spot.

Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: ebranch@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @Eric_Branch

Softer schedule

The 49ers’ first seven opponents have a combined 29-15 record; the six opponents they face in their next seven games are a combined 12-26.

Nov. 2: vs. St. Louis (2-4)

Nov. 9: at New Orleans (2-4)

Nov. 16: at N.Y. Giants (3-4)

Nov. 23: vs. Washington (2-5)

Nov. 27: vs. Seattle (3-3)

Dec. 7: at Oakland (0-6)

Dec. 14: at Seattle (3-3)