San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver Mike Evans has already been ruled out for the team's Week 9 game vs. the Las Vegas Raiders.
He's officially listed as out with ribs and Achilles injuries, but he was playing through a rib injury he suffered in Week 3. Evans also tried playing through an Achilles issue that cropped up in Week 6, but that injury flared up late in the first half of Week 6 and he hasn't returned to practice since. Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated the 49ers would have to manage that ailment throughout the season.
General manager John Lynch on Thursday compared the Achilles tendinitis to the issue Christian McCaffrey dealt with in 2024. McCaffrey that year missed virtually all of training camp and the first eight weeks of the season
managing his injury.
Here's what the Evans injury means for San Francisco in Week 9:
Which healthy wide receivers do the 49ers have?
San Francisco has three healthy WRs on its active rosters:
- Brandin Cooks
- Jacob Cowing
- Jordan Watkins
Deebo Samuel (hamstring) and Christian Kirk (knee) are also ruled out for Week 9. Veteran Demarcus Robinson is due to come off IR after working through a high ankle sprain.
They also carry four WRs on the practice squad:
- Wesley Grimes
- KhaDarel Hodge
- Will Pauling
- Xavier Smith
Who will start for the 49ers with Mike Evans out?
There may not be a better indicator of the 49ers injury woes at WR than their projected starters for Week 9. Robinson is probably the de facto No. 1 in Evans's place with Watkins lining up as the other starter.
49ers vs. Raiders start time
San Francisco and Las Vegas's kickoff was moved back slightly from its original time. It's now slated for a 1:25pm Pacific Time kick.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Mike Evans injury update: Will 49ers WR play vs. Raiders?
