San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan provided a concerning update on Mike Evans Wednesday, October 21, acknowledging that the veteran receiver’s Achilles tendonitis could become an issue the team must manage beyond this week’s matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.
Evans will miss Wednesday’s practice as he continues recovering from the injury that forced him to leave San Francisco’s 23-17 win over the Washington Commanders on Monday night.
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Shanahan’s comments raised a bigger question surrounding the 49ers: how long will this injury limit their top receiver?
“We had to manage it last week, we’ll manage it again this week,” Shanahan said during his Wednesday press conference. “We’ll see how the rest of the year goes.”
San Francisco has not ruled Evans out for Sunday’s game against Atlanta, but his availability remains uncertain after he was unable to finish the matchup against Washington.
Mike Evans’ Achilles injury remains a concern for the 49ers
The 49ers confirmed Evans will not participate in Wednesday’s practice, although the team has yet to make a final decision on his status against the Falcons.
The situation follows a similar pattern from last week, when Evans missed every practice before the Commanders game but was ultimately cleared to play. However, that decision came with a cost.
Evans made an immediate impact, recording three receptions for 94 yards in the first half. But he aggravated the Achilles issue after a 16-yard catch late in the second quarter, went to the locker room, and never returned.
After the game, Shanahan admitted the team knew there was a possibility Evans would not be able to finish the contest.
“It was a pretty close call because he wasn’t able to go all week. We knew he might not be able to last,” Shanahan said, according to Reuters.
While Shanahan initially believed the injury would not become a long-term concern, his latest comments suggest the 49ers are preparing for a situation where they must carefully manage Evans’ workload.
That does not mean the star receiver is expected to miss the remainder of the season, but it does show that San Francisco still does not have a clear timeline for when he will be back at full strength.
49ers offense struggled after Mike Evans left against Washington
The concern surrounding Evans grows when considering how much San Francisco’s offense changed after his departure.
According to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, the 49ers averaged 9.3 yards per play with Evans on the field against Washington. Without him, that number dropped to just 4.5 yards per play.
The Commanders also became more aggressive defensively, blitzing Brock Purdy on 70% of his second-half dropbacks.
San Francisco’s final three possessions produced no first downs and totaled only seven yards.
Through six games, Evans has recorded 27 receptions for 420 yards and three touchdowns, leading the 49ers in receiving yards.
His injury comes at a difficult moment for San Francisco’s receiving corps. Deebo Samuel Sr. also missed Monday’s game, while Christian Kirk continues working toward a return from injured reserve.
If Evans is unavailable against Atlanta, the 49ers could rely even more on their rushing attack, George Kittle, and a depleted group of wide receivers.
Will Mike Evans play against the Falcons?
Evans’ status for Sunday’s October 25 matchup against the Falcons remains uncertain.
The receiver has not been ruled out, and missing Wednesday’s practice does not automatically mean he will miss the game. Last week, he played against Washington despite not practicing.
However, San Francisco has another factor to consider: its Week 8 bye.
Resting Evans against Atlanta would give him additional recovery time before the 49ers return in Week 9, an option the coaching staff will have to evaluate.
The undefeated 49ers enter the matchup at 6-0, but Shanahan faces a difficult decision: protect Evans’ long-term health or keep one of Brock Purdy’s most important offensive weapons on the field.
The next key update will come from Evans’ participation in Thursday and Friday’s practices before the team announces his official game designation.