San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans left Monday night’s game against the Washington Commanders with an Achilles injury and did not return for the second half. Evans was slow to get up after a 16-yard catch late in the second quarter and was seen limping as he headed to the locker room, favoring his right leg. A press box announcement listed him as questionable to return, but he was absent from the sidelines when the second half began.
Evans, 33, had been dealing with soreness in his Achilles tendon throughout the week, which prevented him from practicing. Head coach Kyle Shanahan described the issue as "just some Achilles soreness" and considered it minor, but Evans missed all three practices leading up to the game. This was his third consecutive game playing with two broken ribs.
Before leaving the field, Evans had continued his strong start to the season, catching three passes for 94 yards. His most significant play was a 54-yard catch-and-run that set up the 49ers’ second touchdown, giving them an early 13-3 lead. Over six games, Evans has accumulated 27 receptions for 420 yards and three touchdowns.
The 49ers face a challenge without Evans, as their wide receiver corps is already stretched thin. Deebo Samuel is sidelined with a hamstring injury expected to keep him out for multiple games following an injury sustained against the Seattle Seahawks on October 11. Demarcus Robinson and De’Zhaun Stribling remain on injured reserve with ankle injuries. That leaves Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing, Brandin Cooks, and Malik Turner—who was elevated from the practice squad on Monday—as the available options at wide receiver.
Evans’ injury adds to the 49ers’ ongoing struggles with personnel availability on offense. Shanahan will need to adjust his game plan as the team looks to maintain its offensive rhythm without one of its primary playmakers.
No official update on Evans’ condition has been released since his exit, and his status for upcoming games remains uncertain. The 49ers will continue to monitor the situation closely as the season progresses.
According to Yahoo Sports.
