The San Francisco 49ers remain uncertain about the availability of wide receiver Mike Evans and defensive end Nick Bosa for their Week 7 game against the Atlanta Falcons, with both players’ status still to be determined as the team approaches its bye week.
General manager John Lynch spoke to KNBR on Thursday, addressing concerns about Evans, who has been sidelined with Achilles tendinitis since leaving Monday night’s win over the Washington Commanders midway through the game. Lynch declined to rule Evans out, saying, “I wouldn’t say not likely. I think it’s still TBD. We’ve got a couple more days. We’re going to take every bit of those to try to ascertain where Mike’s at.” He added that Evans has been diligent with his treatment and praised his toughness, noting the team will wait until the end of the week before making a final decision.
Evans has made 27 catches for 420 yards and three touchdowns across six games this season. His potential absence would deepen the 49ers’ struggles in the passing game, which has already been hit hard by injuries. The team lost Deebo Samuel, Demarcus Robinson, and De’Zhaun Stribling early in the season, with Ricky Pearsall sidelined before the year began.
Lynch also addressed Nick Bosa’s situation. The defensive end has missed the last four games due to a calf injury sustained prior to the Week 3 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. Like Evans, Bosa’s return for the Falcons game remains uncertain. Lynch said the team will continue to evaluate Bosa over the next few days before the bye week in Week 8.
While the 49ers’ defense has managed without Bosa, the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year is an important figure on the defensive line. His return would strengthen a unit that has had to adjust to his absence over the previous games.
When asked if the upcoming bye week influences their approach to player availability, Lynch emphasized that the team’s mindset remains unchanged. “You try to win every game in this league,” he said. “So if our players are healthy and we feel good about their ability to not put themselves in more harm and go affect the game in a positive way, that’s what you do in this league.”
The 49ers are navigating a difficult stretch, balancing injury management with maintaining competitiveness. Their injury list has forced adjustments on both sides of the ball. Evans’ condition is particularly concerning given his role as one of the team’s top receiving threats.
No definitive decisions have been made about Evans or Bosa, with the team taking a cautious approach as they assess progress before the Atlanta game. Lynch’s comments suggest the 49ers are willing to wait until closer to game day before confirming who will be available.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers GM has concerning updates on Mike Evans, Nick Bosa for Week 7.
According to Yahoo Sports.
