Mike Evans
Wide Receiver #13
Mike Evans News
Mike Evans the Ultimate Boom-or-Bust Pick in 2026
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (groin) could ultimately prove to be the biggest boom-or-bust pick in 2026 drafts. Already struggling through availability concerns before a game has even been played, the six-time Pro Bowler is 33 years old and has missed 12 games over the past two seasons. When on the field, however, he remains a dominator, particularly in the way it's easy to envision him being used by the 49ers. Operating with a fullback on the field more than any other team over the past two seasons, two-receiver sets have become a staple of Kyle Shanahan's offense, and since 2022, Evans has earned 2.97 yards per route run with fewer than three receivers on the field, a number that would have ranked third in the league among qualified receivers last year. Evans also remains a significant scoring threat for an offense that made the eighth most red zone trips in the league in 2025. Despite true WR1 upside, Evans' warranted health concerns have pushed him to WR28 by current ADP, putting him into a range of the draft that makes it slightly easier to overlook his obvious red flags, as when healthy he should help decide matchups.
Aug 31, 2026 6:32 AM EST
Mike Evans Plans to Play in Week 1 Despite Being Banged Up in Camp
San Francisco 49ers veteran wide receiver Mike Evans (groin) plans to play in Week 1 in Australia against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams despite dealing with injuries in training camp this summer, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Evans' latest injury, a groin ailment, is considered to be minor, barring a setback. The future Hall of Fame wideout has also been held out of practices with quadriceps and calf injuries, although the Niners have mostly been cautious with their WR1. The 49ers have every reason to be extra cautious when considering their bad injury luck in recent seasons, let alone with an aging 33-year-old receiver who is no stranger to nagging lower-body injuries. The six-time Pro Bowler broke a string of 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons in 2025 in his final campaign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing in only eight games due to injuries while catching 30 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns on 62 targets. A bounce-back could be coming in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense in 2026, but durability concerns alone make Evans a pretty big risk. His ideal value now comes as a low-end WR2/high-end WR3/flex in fantasy football drafts.
Aug 26, 2026 4:00 PM EST
Mike Evans Dealing With Groin Injury
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (groin) did not practice Tuesday, according to Matt Maiocco. Evans has dealt with a few interruptions during his first training camp with San Francisco, including a quad issue earlier this month, but he had returned to full participation and was back working in team drills. The groin injury is the latest concern with the regular season getting closer. Evans joined the 49ers this offseason after spending his first 12 NFL seasons in Tampa Bay. He was limited to eight games last year, catching 30 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns. The 33-year-old is expected to have a sizable role in San Francisco's passing game alongside the rest of its revamped receiver group. There is no timetable attached to Tuesday's absence, so his practice status over the rest of the week will be worth watching.
Aug 25, 2026 10:40 AM EST
Mike Evans Participates in "Much" of Sunday's Practice
ESPN's Nick Wagoner reports San Francisco 49ers wideout Mike Evans (ankle) participated in much of practice on Sunday, but did not go all the way through it and stopped participating near the end. Wagoner noted that Evans was "moving fine," and connected with quarterback Brock Purdy for a big gain during practice. However, Evans and the 49ers want to be cautious to get him ready for Week 1 against division rival Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. Evans had some tightness in his quad earlier this week and had his left foot/ankle wrapped and iced. The 33-year-old is expected to be the No. 1 receiver in the offense this year and will have a big role in the passing game, especially in the red zone. If Evans can play a full 17-game season, he will have an opportunity to lead the league in receiving touchdowns in 2026.
Aug 23, 2026 5:21 PM EST
Mike Evans Returns to 49ers Practice on Saturday
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (quadriceps, ankle) returned to practice on Saturday, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner. Evans has been dealing with both an ankle injury and quad tightness, but it appears both injuries are minor and his status for the start of the regular season is not in any doubt. Wagoner reports that Evans "went on to have a nice practice" after returning to the field on Saturday. The 33-year-old is in his first season with the 49ers after spending the first 12 years of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Evans is looking for a bounce-back season after missing nine games in 2025 due to hamstring and collarbone injuries. With 49ers wideout Ricky Pearsall (knee) already out for the year, Evans profiles as the undisputed WR1 in San Francisco. Fantasy managers should view Evans as a low-end WR2/high-end WR3 option entering 2026.
Aug 22, 2026 5:14 PM EST
Mike Evans Should be Ready for Week 1
NBC Sports' Matt Maiocco thinks the San Francisco 49ers are playing it safe with veteran wide receiver Mike Evans (ankle) and that he should be ready for Week 1 of the regular season in Australia against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. Maiocco does not think Evans is dealing with any strain or a pulled muscle after he was pulled early from Tuesday's joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers. Evans is not expected to do much practicing between now and Week 1, and Maiocco does not expect the future Hall of Famer to suit up for the final preseason game next week against the Las Vegas Raiders. The 33-year-old had some quad tightness earlier this week and had his left foot/ankle wrapped and iced, but head coach Kyle Shanahan downplayed any injury issues for Evans this week. Evans missed time with a minor quad injury earlier in training camp, and the Niners are likely being extra cautious with an aging wideout who has had his share of soft-tissue injuries. When fully healthy, Evans should be QB Brock Purdy's No. 1 target, but durability concerns make him a shaky low-end WR2/high-end WR3/flex for fantasy managers as he enters his first season in the Bay Area.
Aug 22, 2026 9:00 AM EST
Mike Evans Dealing With Left Foot/Ankle Tightness
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (foot/ankle) had his left foot and ankle wrapped and iced during Tuesday's joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers. Evans appeared to be finished for the day after receiving treatment on the sideline, but head coach Kyle Shanahan later said the veteran was only experiencing some tightness and that he does not believe the issue is serious. That's encouraging after Evans only recently returned from a quadriceps strain suffered Aug. 1. He didn't get back into 11-on-11 work until Saturday, making it a quick turnaround between injury concerns. Evans signed a three-year deal with San Francisco in March after spending his first 12 seasons with Tampa Bay. He was limited to eight games last year, catching 30 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns. Tuesday's early exit is still worth noting, but Shanahan's update takes some of the concern out of the situation.
Aug 18, 2026 11:20 AM EST
Mike Evans Returns to Team Drills
San Francisco Chronicle's Noah Furtado reports that San Francisco wideout Mike Evans (quad) returned to team 11-on-11 drills and caught a rope from Brock Purdy. Evans suffered a quadriceps strain early in training camp that has forced him to miss practices and the 49ers' preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday. The 49ers have dealt with various injuries up to this point that have caused multiple receivers to miss some time in training camp. Evans is projected to be the WR1 in the offense and will be the No. 1 option in the red zone through the air. With Evans returning to team drills, he is on track to be available for Week 1. Evans is being drafted as a fringe WR2 and carries immense touchdown upside for 2026.
Aug 15, 2026 12:05 PM EST
Mike Evans Not in Uniform for Preseason Opener
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (quadriceps) is not in uniform for the team's preseason opener on Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. Evans returned to practice earlier this week, but it's no surprise that he's not playing in the preseason opener after recently missing time due to a minor quad strain that he suffered early in training camp. In addition to Evans, receivers Christian Kirk and Demarcus Robinson aren't in uniform, and star running back Christian McCaffrey is out as well. It's unclear if the veteran Evans will play in any preseason games as he heads into his first year in the Bay Area with the Niners. The 32-year-old future Hall of Famer broke his string of 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons in 2025 in his final year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a broken collarbone that limited him to eight starts. A bounce-back should be coming in 2026 if he stays healthy, but that's a big question mark for an aging receiver who is closer to the end of his career than the beginning of it. For fantasy purposes, Evans should be considered a low-end WR2/high-end WR3 who will be a go-to target for QB Brock Purdy in the red zone.
Aug 13, 2026 4:48 PM EST
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
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