This offseason, the 49ers signed two veteran wide receivers in free agency. It's quite clear already that they've struck gold with Mike Evans. But the other hasn't even suited up yet - and now, he's getting the spotlight.
The 49ers will enter Sunday's matchup in Atlanta undefeated, but they're facing a borderline crisis at wideout. Pretty much every top receiver has missed time this season, and that now officially includes Evans, whom the team ruled out for Sunday's game with Achilles tendinitis. And so, with little room for error, the next man up is Christian Kirk.
In true 2026 49ers fashion, Kirk is listed as questionable for the second straight week as he recovers from a calf injury he suffered in training camp, which led to his placement on injured reserve before the season started. Kirk returned to practice last week in a limited capacity but didn't play on Monday night.
This week, he's been a full participant, despite the questionable tag, and quarterback Brock Purdy told reporters on Thursday that Kirk is "good to go now, man, in my eyes." The team also appears to think so, as the 49ers released defensive lineman Ogbo Okoronkwo from their 53-man roster, clearing a roster spot that they would need in order to activate Kirk from injured reserve.
Kirk, 29, is in his ninth NFL season and has played for three teams so far: the Cardinals, Jaguars and Texans. He's put up some big seasons in the past, particularly in a two-year run from 2021-2022, but has been more of a role player recently. Last year in Houston, he caught 28 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown in the regular season. He did have a big game in the playoffs for the Texans, tallying eight catches for 144 yards and a touchdown in a blowout win over the Steelers.
Of course, at 5 feet, 11 inches, Kirk is not going to be a like-for-like fill-in for Evans. The 6-foot-5-inch future Hall of Famer has played through a number of ailments already this year while clearly never being fully healthy. With the bye week following this road game, the 49ers are electing to give Evans multiple weeks off in a row to try and get healthy.
With Evans and Deebo Samuel (hamstring) out and the trio of Ricky Pearsall (season-ending knee surgery), Demarcus Robinson (ankle) and top draft pick De'Zhaun Stribling (ankle) on injured reserved, the Niners have just three healthy receivers on their active roster: veteran Brandin Cooks, whom the Niners signed as a free agent in the middle of the season, and unproven youngsters Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing. Kirk would be the fourth, with a still-to-come practice squad call-up likely to give the team five options.
The 49ers don't know what, exactly, they'll get out of Kirk. But having him play on Sunday would be a welcome presence in the face of all of these injuries.
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This article originally published at The 49ers spotlight is on Christian Kirk with Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel out.