Mike Evans
Wide Receiver #13
Mike Evans News
Mike Evans in Uniform for Tuesday's Practice
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (quadriceps) is in uniform and warming up for Tuesday's joint practice with the Tennessee Titans after missing time recently with a quad injury, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Evans is returning to practice for the first time since suffering a strained quad muscle last Monday. While the veteran wideout might be limited on Tuesday, it's a great sign for the future Hall of Famer going forward. We would not expect Evans to play in the team's preseason opener on Thursday against the Titans. The 32-year-old six-time Pro Bowler has a fantastic track record in the NFL, recording 1,000-yard seasons in each of his first 11 seasons in the league before playing in just eight games due to a broken collarbone in 2025 in his final year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fantasy managers aren't worried about what Evans has done in the past, though, and durability concerns as he nears the tail end of his career will make him a much riskier fantasy WR than he's ever been before. At the very least, Evans should be an excellent red-zone weapon for QB Brock Purdy, but injury concerns have dropped him to No. 26 in RotoBaller's WR rankings entering the 2026 season.
Aug 11, 2026 9:53 AM EST
Mike Evans is Nearing Full Strength
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (quad) was unable to practice on Saturday, but is close to 100 percent, according to Nick Wagoner. Evans was able to work out on the side on Saturday while he continues to recover from a quad injury. Evans has been sidelined all week from this quad injury, but he should be back at practice soon. There is still over a month before the regular season begins, so Evans has plenty of time to get ready. The 13-year veteran should be a top option right away with his new team, especially with some of the injuries the 49ers have been dealing with early in camp.
Aug 8, 2026 6:16 PM EST
Mike Evans Remains Sidelined With Quad Strain
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (quadriceps) remained out of practice Wednesday, according to Matt Maiocco. Evans also missed Monday's session with the injury, and the team has not provided a timetable for his return. The veteran caught 30 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns across eight games with Tampa Bay last season before joining San Francisco during the offseason. Two missed practices in early August are not enough to significantly change his fantasy outlook, but the issue is worth monitoring given his injury-shortened 2025 campaign. His participation over the next several practices should provide a better indication of whether the strain could affect his preseason preparation.
Aug 5, 2026 10:23 AM EST
Mike Evans Misses Practice With Quad Strain
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (quadriceps) did not practice Monday because of a quad strain, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. The team has not announced when the injury occurred or how long Evans is expected to be sidelined. San Francisco signed the six-time Pro Bowler to a three-year deal in March after he spent his first 12 NFL seasons with Tampa Bay. Evans was limited to eight games in 2025, finishing with 30 receptions for 368 yards and three touchdowns. Before last season, he had opened his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard campaigns. The 49ers have no reason to push the 32-year-old veteran through a soft-tissue injury early in camp, but the lack of a timetable makes his next practice status worth watching. Evans' fantasy outlook remains unchanged for now, though a longer absence would become more concerning as the preseason approaches.
Aug 3, 2026 10:24 AM EST
Mike Evans Stands Out on Day 1 of Training Camp
Following an impressive spring with the team, veteran wide receiver Mike Evans was named an early standout in his first training camp practice with the San Francisco 49ers, with The Athletic's Matt Barrows pointing to a pair of long connections from quarterback Brock Purdy. Evans signed a three-year, $42 million deal this offseason after 12 Hall of Fame-level seasons with the Buccaneers, and big things are expected in a Kyle Shanahan offense that should frequently see him deployed out of two-receiver sets. An injury-marred 2025 campaign marked Evans' first season without reaching 1,000 receiving yards, but he's looking to bounce back in a big way, and it looks as if his chemistry with Purdy is already being established. Evans is RotoBaller's WR26 and a sleeper candidate for a WR1 finish with a bit of touchdown luck in his age-33 season.
Jul 27, 2026 5:38 AM EST
Ricky Pearsall, Christian Kirk, De'Zhaun Stribling Competing to Start Alongside Mike Evans
San Francisco 49ers wide receivers Ricky Pearsall, Christian Kirk, and De'Zhaun Stribling are among the players competing for significant snaps alongside Mike Evans, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. Pearsall is the most established holdover after catching 36 passes for 528 yards in nine games last season, an average of 58.7 receiving yards that led the team's wideouts. Staying healthy is the concern after a knee injury limited him to nine appearances and 20 games across his first two seasons. Kirk joined San Francisco on a one-year deal after recording 28 catches for 239 yards and one touchdown with Houston in 2025. Stribling, the 33rd overall pick in April, flashed during the offseason program and brings size, speed, and blocking ability. Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins, and Jacob Cowing are also in the mix, with Cowing viewed as the front-runner for punt-return duties. Evans has one starting spot locked down, but the rest of the rotation will be settled during camp.
Jul 25, 2026 1:00 PM EST
Mike Evans Could Bounce Back in a Major Way with 49ers
When the San Francisco 49ers open training camp practices on Sunday, fantasy managers will get their first extended look at 13th-year wide receiver Mike Evans in his new home. For the first time since the Buccaneers selected him in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, he'll be playing for a new team, and after a string of injuries left him shy of 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career in 2025, he should have every opportunity to begin a new streak with the 49ers. Evans has long dominated with two or fewer wide receivers on the field, and with head coach and playcaller Kyle Shanahan deploying a fullback on more than 41% of his team's snaps a year ago, that is a situation the six-time Pro Bowler should find himself in often. Assuming sustained health for all three, a trio of Evans, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle has the ability to attack all levels of the defense and should find fantasy success in an offense projected among the highest scoring in the league. At RotoBaller's WR26, Evans is an underrated bounceback candidate in 2026 drafts.
Jul 21, 2026 5:37 AM EST
Can Mike Evans Return to WR1 Form in 2026?
A broken collarbone, a concussion, and a nagging hamstring issue limited six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans to only eight games in 2025, ending his historic run of 1,000-yard campaigns. In signing a three-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, Evans will seek a fresh start for his 13th season, and if health allows him to stay on the field, he could be well-positioned for a 2026 bounceback. Throughout his career, Evans has been one of the most productive players in the league with two or fewer receivers on the field, and with head coach Kyle Shanahan's propensity for fullback usage, that is a situation he should find himself in regularly. The team's leading wide receiver from each of the past two seasons, Jauan Jennings, departed in free agency, and with All-Pro tight end George Kittle potentially requiring an early-season ramp-up period as he recovers from a torn Achilles, San Francisco's offense could run through Evans and Christian McCaffrey to begin the year. At almost 33 years old, the health concerns that plagued his final season in Tampa have not suddenly disappeared, but as RotoBaller's WR26, Evans is a pure upside swing in 2026 drafts, and if he can manage anything close to a full season, he could ultimately finish the year in familiar territory among fantasy's biggest difference-makers.
Jul 1, 2026 5:37 AM EST
Mike Evans Brings a "New Dimension" to 49ers Offense
Playing for his first new team since the Buccaneers selected him in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans has been impressing his new teammates, with All-Pro tight end George Kittle recently telling reporters he brings a "new dimension" to the offense, particularly in the red zone. Evans has been complimentary of both his new system and quarterback, praising head coach and playcaller Kyle Shanahan for putting him in good opportunities against one-on-one coverage and noting that fifth-year professional Brock Purdy was one of the big reasons he came to San Francisco. The 49ers have deployed 21-personnel at the league's highest rate in each of the past two seasons, and with defenses needing to account for a fullback with an extra body near the box, Evans could see one of the highest rates of man coverage in his career, and if he can translate that into double-digit touchdown receptions, a mark he's cleared in four of the last six seasons, he'll prove to be a steal at RotoBaller's WR26.
Jun 9, 2026 5:14 AM EST
Mike Evans Making a Strong Impression at OTAs With his New Team
New San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans has quickly won over his coaches and teammates in the Bay Area during OTAs, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Not only has Evans, a surefire future Hall of Famer, been humble around his new teammates, but his length and route-running abilities have stood out in practices. "I pinch myself every day," tight end George Kittle said. "This is like the first legit veteran wide receiver I've had on my roster since Emmanuel Sanders in 2019, in my opinion. And nothing against the other veteran receivers I've had, but he's a Hall of Famer. I think he takes ball seriously. That kind of sets the tone for the wide receiver room, especially when we have a bunch of young guys in there." Evans' string of 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons ended in 2025 due to a broken clavicle, but he's intent on starting a new streak in 2026 at 32 years old. Joining the Niners gives Evans a clear path back to the 1,000-yard mark and perhaps even double-digit touchdowns, but there's no denying the risk involved with an aging player like Evans, who has a lot of tread on the tires. Fantasy managers would be wise to target him as more of a high-end WR3/low-end WR2 in drafts this fall.
Jun 4, 2026 1:25 PM EST
Mike Evans a Risky Upside Buy for Contending Dynasty Managers
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans will be 33 to begin the 2026 season and is coming off a disappointing injury-tarnished year in which he failed to reach 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career. Starting fresh with a new team for the first time since the Buccaneers made him the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, he has fallen all the way to WR40 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings, making him a strong bounce-back candidate and a lower-cost trade target for contending managers. Evans has been one of the league's most efficient pass-catchers with two or fewer receivers on the field, and in moving from one of the league's heaviest rates of 11 personnel to a Niners team that ran the highest percentage of plays with a fullback on the field, those opportunities should only increase. A growing history of soft tissue injuries should not be ignored, but if Evans can stay healthy in 2026, he's capable of returning immediate value as a short-term dynasty buy.
May 30, 2026 8:59 AM EST
Mike Evans a Sneaky Dynasty Buy Candidate Ahead of NFL Draft?
After spending the first 12 seasons of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, veteran wide receiver Mike Evans made headlines by signing with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency earlier this offseason. Injuries forced Evans to miss nine games in his final year with Tampa Bay in 2025. Across the eight games he was healthy for, the 32-year-old hauled in 30 receptions for 368 yards and three touchdowns on 62 targets. While Evans should no longer be expected to provide the same production he once did at his peak, he currently profiles as the clear number one wide receiver in the 49ers' passing game. Particularly with star 49ers tight end George Kittle (Achilles) working his way back from a torn Achilles tendon, Evans could dominate targets early in the year in San Francisco. In dynasty formats, now might be the time for win-now managers to buy low on Evans before his value starts gaining momentum following the upcoming NFL Draft.
Apr 21, 2026 12:10 PM EST
Mike Evans Still Has WR1 Upside in New Home
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans went through a massive change of scenery this offseason. After 12 years in Tampa Bay, the veteran pass-catcher inked a new contract with the 49ers, pairing him with talented quarterback Brock Purdy. While it's not necessarily a major quarterback upgrade or downgrade for Evans, the change of scenery could be valuable for his NFL career and fantasy outlook. His role was slipping a little in Tampa Bay as Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. took on larger roles. In San Francisco, Evans will be the clear No. 1 receiver, with Ricky Pearsall not serving as too much of a threat. Staying healthy will be the biggest key for Evans, who missed nine games last year and finally saw his streak of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons come to an end. We would not be surprised to see Evans finish 2026 as a mid-to-high WR2, and he even has WR1 upside. Even at 32 years old, he's an intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues where his current manager is bothered by last year's injury issues.
Mar 31, 2026 6:02 AM EST
Mike Evans Expected to Fit in Nicely in San Fran as X Receiver
New San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans is expected to "step in right away as the X receiver" and provide leadership for a wideout group that doesn't have much experience, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Evan's "red-zone and tight-window acumen" should translate quickly into head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense in 2026. The 32-year-old future Hall of Famer had 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before breaking that streak last year when he played in only eight games due to collarbone and hamstring injuries. Evans has scored double-digit touchdowns in six of his 12 seasons in the league, and his 27 TDs on tight-window throws over the last 10 seasons are six more than the next closest player, according to Next Gen Stats. While Evans is nearing the end of his career, his landing spot in the Bay Area could be the best chance he has for a 12th 1,000-yard season. The Niners swooped on Evans earlier this week and signed him to a three-year, $42.4 million contract that could reach $60.4 million through incentives.
Mar 12, 2026 12:23 PM EST
Mike Evans Agrees to Join the 49ers
Future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans has agreed to terms on an undisclosed three-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Evans' 13th year in the NFL will be his first away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 32-year-old veteran opened his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons before suffering hamstring and collarbone injuries in 2025 that limited him to a career-low eight starts. Evans caught 30 of his 62 targets last year for 368 yards and three touchdowns. The six-time Pro Bowler will now be seeking a second Super Bowl ring in the Bay Area as the Niners' clear No. 1 target for quarterback Blake Purdy. Injuries are a bigger issue for the aging wideout, but if healthy, Evans could have a WR1 ceiling again in fantasy football in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense.
Mar 9, 2026 11:00 AM EST
Mike Evans has No Shortage of Suitors With Free Agency Looming
The Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers have all expressed interest in signing Tampa Bay Buccaneers impending free-agent wide receiver Mike Evans, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot also believes the Cleveland Browns will pursue the six-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer. Evans is likely to prefer a team that has a realistic shot at a Super Bowl run, which would eliminate the Browns, but Evans did thrive under new Browns head coach Todd Monken when Monken was the offensive coordinator in Tampa. The Chargers and Commanders are intriguing potential landing spots, but the 32-year-old former seventh overall pick could decide that staying in Tampa with quarterback Baker Mayfield gives him the best chance to compete for another ring. The 12-year veteran played in a career-low eight games in 2025 due to a broken collarbone. Durability concerns are becoming much more real as Evans nears the end of his outstanding career.
Mar 8, 2026 7:08 PM EST
Buccaneers Interested in Re-signing Mike Evans
At the NFL Combine on Thursday, sources told Jenna Laine of ESPN that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will "aggressively pursue" attempts to re-sign wide receiver Mike Evans ahead of the 2026 season. The 32-year-old pass catcher played in a career-low eight games in 2025 due to collarbone and hamstring injuries, and was unable to extend his streak of 1,000-yard seasons to 12. When active and healthy in Weeks 1 through 3 and 15 through 18, however, Evans was quarterback Baker Mayfield's preferred target, averaging eight targets and 39% air yards share per game. If Evans does return to Tampa, he profiles as a low-end WR2 due to his target volume and the likelihood that he will lead a packed wide receiver room.
Feb 28, 2026 4:17 AM EST
Buccaneers "Would Love" to Re-Sign Mike Evans
Despite an injury-plagued 2025 campaign, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers want to re-sign impending veteran free-agent wide receiver Mike Evans, according to James Palmer of the NFL Network. "He's earned the right to do this. And he knows we'd love to have him back," general manager Jason Licht said on Evans and him exploring free agency. Evans, 32, is a future Hall of Famer after beginning his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons in Tampa. However, the six-time Pro Bowler is aging and played in a career-low eight games in 2025 due to hamstring and collarbone injuries. At this point in Evans' career, having another shot to win another Super Bowl ring is probably most important, so he'll have to determine if another team is a better fit with a better chance of winning. If he stays with the Bucs, he'll be in a crowded receiving room. Either way, the days of Evans being a lock for 1,000 yards might be over.
Feb 24, 2026 4:38 PM EST
Mike Evans Will Return in 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers impending free-agent wide receiver Mike Evans will play in 2026, agents Deryk Gilmore and Darren Jones told Kimberley A. Martin of ESPN. Evans will return for a 13th season after an injury-plagued 2025 campaign that limited him to a career-low eight games, but Martin also reports that the 32-year-old future Hall of Famer will explore his options in free agency. It's not a foregone conclusion that Evans will return to play in Tampa in 2026, although if he does sign with another organization, it will almost certainly be a team with Super Bowl aspirations. A broken collarbone prevented the former first-rounder from reaching 1,000 receiving yards for the 12th straight year. When healthy, Evans caught 30 of his 62 targets for 368 yards and three touchdowns in eight games. Evans can still be productive when healthy, but depending on where he lands in free agency, he may not be a lock as a WR1 as he nears the end of his illustrious career.
Feb 17, 2026 11:51 AM EST
Mike Evans Less Likely to Retire
Tampa Bay Buccaneers impending free-agent wide receiver Mike Evans has not discussed his future with the team yet as an unrestricted free agent, but ESPN's Jenna Laine writes that Evans, 32, is "less likely to retire," based on conversations with those closest to him. The future Hall of Famer had the worst year of his career in 2025, thanks to a broken collarbone that limited him to just eight games. Evans finished his 12th year in the league with 30 receptions on 62 targets for 368 yards and three touchdowns. With limited time remaining in his NFL career, will he choose to go elsewhere for a better shot at a Super Bowl ring? It remains to be seen, but at the moment, he appears to be leaning toward returning for the 2026 season. The six-time Pro Bowler began his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons before last year's injury-plagued campaign. If he stays in Tampa in 2026, he should be the No. 1 wideout again, albeit in a crowded receiving room that also includes Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan.
Feb 13, 2026 6:14 AM EST
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