Who Should I Start? Mike Evans or Brian Thomas Jr.

Saturday, August 22, 9:00 AM

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.