“It’s been going well. I’m sure if this was the last game or something he’d be able to go out there, but we’re just trying to make sure it fully heals so it doesn’t act up again. But it’s going in the right direction,” Shanahan said recently to the press.

Does Mike Evans have an exact return date? That remains to be seen. For now, his head coach remains hopeful of having him back in the Bay Area in the near future: “There’s a chance for next week, but not sure yet,” Shanahan said.

Evans is undoubtedly one of the best players at his position. Unfortunately, injuries have taken their toll on him, and the 49ers are eager to have him back on the gridiron at full strength as soon as possible.

What injury is Mike Evans dealing with?

Mike Evans has been sidelined with Achilles tendinitis after the issue first flared up following the 49ers’ Week 5 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Despite sitting out practice all week leading up to Week 6 against the Washington Commanders, the veteran wideout tried to suit up and play through the soreness on Monday night, October 19, only to aggravate the injury late in the first half and miss the entire second half.

Learning from their past mistakes with Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco has decided to take a cautious approach and shut Evans down until he is fully healed—keeping him out of action through their Week 7 loss to Atlanta, their Week 8 bye, Week 9 against the Raiders, and ruling him out for this Sunday’s Week 10 showdown against the Cowboys.

Evans’ numbers this season

Before the injury slowed him down, Mike Evans was fitting in nicely as a big-play threat for the 49ers offense. Across six games so far this 2026 season, the veteran wideout has hauled in 27 catches on 39 targets for 420 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns.

He’s been stretching the field effectively, averaging a strong 15.6 yards per grab, highlighted by a 7-catch, 113-yard, one-touchdown outing against Seattle in Week 5 and a 94-yard performance (including a season-long 54-yard catch) in the first half against Washington before exiting in Week 6.

Key takeaways

• Mike Evans will miss the San Francisco 49ers’ game against the Dallas Cowboys.
• Mike Evans is sidelined with Achilles tendinitis aggravated against the Washington Commanders in Week 6.
• Mike Evans has 27 catches for 420 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2026.

It’s not that McCaffrey will enter a committee by any means. According to Shanahan, and reported by Nick Wagoner of ESPN, McCaffrey was dealing with some cramps throughout the game.

Hence, at the prospect of injury, Shanahan opted to give calculated snaps to CMC, and let Kaelon Black flourish. By the way, it worked, as Black was productive against the Rams. All in all, McCaffrey is fine and should be ready to roll for Week 2.

McCaffrey was still very effective

While dealing with cramps, CMC was still borderline unstoppable. He had 88 all-purpose yards thanks to 10 carries for 68 rushing yards and five receptions for 20 receiving yards.

Facing one of the top teams in the NFL, McCaffrey averaged 6.8 yards per carry, which is an incredible feat. That boosted the Niners to get a very important win against a very tough divisional opponent.

The 49ers’ priority is to stay as healthy as possible

After the game against the Rams, tight end Jake Tonges and wideout De’Zhaun Stribling are already sidelined. Hence, the 49ers were correct in limiting McCaffrey‘s snaps to avoid any further issues with their most important player.

Even Shanahan himself was expressive and demonstrated some concern about the NFL moving one of the Los Angeles Rams’ home games to Australia, per reporter David Lombardi.

“Shanahan said he was initially disappointed that NFL ‘let the Rams off the hook’ by taking away a 49ers’ ‘home game’ at SoFi Stadium. But after being in Melbourne for a few days, Shanahan feels ‘it won’t be much different here’ — he expects 49ers’ fan dominance in MCG,” Lombardi wrote.

A tough adjustment heading to Australia

When asked about the injury report before the Rams clash, the 49ers head coach made a hilarious yet technically correct reference, making it clear that traveling to Australia involves complicated details.

“Because we are technically in the future, and the Rams are in the present, I don’t have to talk about injuries until tomorrow,” he said, prompting a chuckle from reporters.

Australia is around 12 hours or more ahead of the U.S. Though both countries cover a vast area of land and use multiple time zones, the time difference ranges between 12 and 19 hours. That shift is giving the 49ers’ head coach a hard time keeping track of days and dates across both countries.

“We’re a little confused with when I look at my clock and it says the time, and then I try to see my family’s time, and it says the time, but it says yesterday,” he said via Reuters. “I don’t get how that’s possible. So I feel like I’m in the future. Then also when we play on our Friday, which I think is a Thursday in the U.S., we’re such creatures of habit. So I call today Tuesday. No, wait, sorry, I call today Wednesday, which is the first day we put in the game plan,” Shanahan added.

Shanahan shut down any speculation regarding the star running back’s injury status. According to Adam Schefter, Shanahan stated that McCaffrey “would have practiced Tuesday if it weren’t a joint practice vs. the Chargers. 49ers also have no reason to believe that McCaffrey’s missed practice time is contract-related.”

San Francisco 49ers concluded their final open training camp session on Sunday, which McCaffrey missed. The team traveled to Southern California for a joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers. The 49ers will face Chargers in their second preseason game on Thursday, Aug. 20.

Expecting a healthy McCaffrey

When healthy, McCaffrey ranks not only among the best running backs in the league, but among the best of a generation. In five of the six seasons in which he played at least 16 games, he finished the year with over 1,800 yards from scrimmage and surpassed 2,000 yards in three of those campaigns.

That said, those 16-game seasons have been interrupted by several years in which he played less than half a season. Since 2020, he has missed 37 games and frequently appears on the injury report.

Should McCaffrey protest his contract?

Regarding money, McCaffrey currently earns around $12 million per year, which ranks sixth among NFL running backs. While it might seem like he should rank higher on the list, the only player earning substantially more right now is Saquon Barkley at $18 million annually.

Everyone else falls within $1.5 million of McCaffrey’s current salary. That places Christian above average for his position as one of the NFL‘s top performers, meaning contract demands should not be a relevant factor for a potential holdout.

“Just soreness, tendinitis,” Shanahan said during his press conference. “It’s a pretty normal thing with ACLs. Talking to our guys, they say it happens with about 90 percent of the [time]. So, it’s a normal thing. We’ve got to be smart here week to week, but no concerns about it being any more than that.”

With Mykel Williams on the PUP list, it will be key for Shanahan to have Bosa available from Day 1 of next season. To achieve that, caution regarding his recovery is a top priority.

Nick Bosa’s lengthy layoff

Nick Bosa suffered a serious knee injury during a September 21, 2025 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, ultimately undergoing surgery on September 26 to repair a torn ACL. The setback derailed his campaign and underscored his recent durability challenges, as the 28-year-old star has not posted a double-digit sack season since 2023—the last time he managed to appear in all 17 regular season games.

In fact, Bosa has played in just 17 total games over the past two seasons combined, recording 11 sacks during that stretch as he works to regain his status as one of the NFL‘s premier edge rushers.

San Francisco’s upcoming games

Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers will kick off their 2026 preseason action at home on Thursday, August 13, hosting the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium. Following their opener, the 49ers hit the road for back-to-back exhibition road tests against AFC West opponents, traveling to face the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Thursday, August 20, before closing out their preseason slate against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Thursday, August 27.

The 49ers must avoid more injuries

The 49ers saw their 2025 season severely impacted by major injuries to several of their foundational stars. Fred Warner suffered a season-ending fractured and dislocated ankle against Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while George Kittle was sidelined early with a hamstring strain before suffering a torn Achilles in the postseason.

Additionally, Christian McCaffrey dealt with persistent calf and leg issues that limited his effectiveness, leaving San Francisco without its key playmakers for crucial stretches of the year.

“Yeah, it depends if he stays healthy,” Shanahan told reporters on Saturday. “Mike to me is always, if you’re a starting receiver, you’re out there a ton which everyone is. I forget what it was last year, maybe hamstring, where he missed time and when that happens you miss games.

“But Mike’s going to be a starting receiver here and we don’t like any of our guys to go every play. We want our guys going full speed and it’s hard to go full speed every play. So, we’re always going to spell guys. But hopefully, he’s got a little quad right now, which I know Mike probably believes he could be back right now. We’re being smart with him, but he’s going to be good to go.”

Brock Purdy has an elite wide receiver in Evans, who can make a difference when healthy. Can this duo lead San Francisco back to the top of the NFL?

An elite weapon for the 49ers

With the addition of Mike Evans, the San Francisco 49ers added one of the most reliable wide receivers of his generation. Although injury issues limited his final 2025 campaign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to just 8 games—finishing with 30 receptions, 368 receiving yards, and 3 touchdowns—his broader resume speaks for itself.

Evans holds the NFL record for the most consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons to start a career with 11 straight from 2014 to 2024, bringing a elite, proven deep-ball and red-zone threat to the 49ers’ offense.

What injury is Evans dealing with?

After missing several games in 2025 due to a hamstring strain and a broken collarbone, Mike Evans is currently recovering from a strained quadriceps suffered during the first week of 2026 training camp with the San Francisco 49ers.

The first challenges for Shanahan and the 49ers

Kyle Shanahan wants to take San Francisco back to the Super Bowl, and to do so, he will need to get off to a strong start in the upcoming NFL season.

• vs Los Angeles Rams, Week 1
• vs Miami Dolphins, Week 2
• vs Arizona Cardinals, Week 3
• vs Denver Broncos, Week 4
• at Seattle Seahawks, Week 5

Following news of Shanahan’s accident, questions arose about whether he could continue leading the 49ers and, specifically, travel with the team to Australia. Lynch pushed back on those concerns, stating: “That is not what we’re anticipating. The expectation is, long before that he’ll be better.”

Still, it may come down to the wire on whether Shanahan can make the trip. Lynch’s comments leave some uncertainty entering a season that could prove tough for San Francisco, according to a report from a San Francisco Chronicle writer.

Another report suggests a longer absence

In a piece for Sports Illustrated, Grant Cohn reported that Shanahan could miss anywhere from a single week to the entire season if the concussion he suffered doesn’t heal in time. Recovery requires extended rest and total commitment to getting healthy.

Cohn consulted a doctor regarding the injury. The physician noted, and Cohn wrote in his article, that the 49ers coach was likely knocked unconscious during the crash. The doctor added that out of 100 concussion patients, about 10% recover within a week, while another 10% need a full year to heal.

An official medical update from the 49ers is still pending. Regardless of whether someone is an NFL head coach or not, head trauma demands caution to prevent long-term complications. Entering 2026, Shanahan is set for his tenth season in San Francisco.

The 49ers’ early 2026 schedule

Missing Shanahan to start the year would be a blow. Beyond the opener against the Rams in Australia, the 49ers return home for a three-game homestand against Miami, Arizona, and Denver. Heading into that stretch without their head coach would be a tough test for team morale.

“Very fast, very mature,” Kittle said during his press conference. “What is he 25? I like old rookies because they’re ready to play. You don’t have to go through the immaturity part.”

Black was selected by the 49ers in the third round of the last draft, with the 90th overall pick. While many expected them to go for a young talent in the backfield, Kyle Shanahan and his staff surprised everyone with this decision.

“We had him as the second-rated back on the board,” the head coach said on the Rich Eisen Show on April 30. “That’s just our evaluation of him. Right or wrong, that was our evaluation of him.”

The intriguing San Francisco backfield

The San Francisco 49ers boast an incredibly deep and versatile backfield engineered to perfectly fit Kyle Shanahan‘s dynamic zone-running scheme. At the forefront is the elite Christian McCaffrey, whose dual-threat capability remains the absolute engine of the ground game.

Behind him, the explosive Jordan James slots in as the primary backup, followed closely by rookie Kaelon Black, who adds a physical, downhill running style to the rotation. Further down the depth chart, the athletic Isaac Guerendo provides exceptional raw speed and upside, while veterans like Patrick Taylor Jr. solidify the unit with reliable depth and special teams value.

49ers aim to avoid injuries ahead of next season

Following an injury-plagued 2025 season that heavily disrupted their offensive rhythm, the San Francisco 49ers are actively adjusting their strategy to keep their core stars healthy. Last year, structural stability took a major hit as quarterback Brock Purdy missed several starts due to injury, while elite tight end George Kittle suffered a devastating Achilles tear during postseason.

Furthermore, because of the surrounding injuries and roster instability, head coach Kyle Shanahan was forced to overwork Christian McCaffrey, leading to a grueling 413-touch workload that lowered his overall efficiency.

To prevent another wave of soft-tissue issues and long-term fatigue, the front office has heavily prioritized depth—particularly by restocking the backfield and adding reliable pass-catching options—aiming to strictly manage player snap counts and prevent their franchise cornerstones from taking unnecessary punishment before the playoffs.

Appearing on the Rich Eisen Show, Shanahan said “I know there’s a chance to” Kittle playing in the season opener on September 10, where the 49ers will play the Rams in Melbourne, Australia.

Shanahan also stated that Kittle is working hard in his rehab. He suffered the injury on January 11th, in the Wild Card round against the Philadelphia Eagles. Kittle is 32 years old, but he is as productive as ever.

Shanahan cherishes Kittle for many reasons

Not only is Kittle a role model, with no off-field issues, but he is also an incredible football players. Kittle, as a tight end, is a superstar. He catches the ball as good as anyone, and he is arguably one of the best blocking tight ends in the league.

Hence, Shanahan loves having him. He sees Kittle as a leader of men, but also as a guy that can help both in the passing game, and in the running game. Shanahan is a run-game savant, so having an elite blocker like Kittle is music to his ears.

The 49ers suffered way too many injuries in 2025

The 49ers saw Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams, and Kittle get season-ending injuries, with Bosa and Williams suffering ACL tears. Fred Warner also suffered a significant ankle injury. Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall, Yetur Gross-Matos, all were sidelined for weeks too.

Even players who were relevant all season long, like Christian McCaffrey and Jauan Jennings, played under a plethora of injuries. McCaffrey’s injuries were more of a wear-and-tear matter, while Jennings played games while having broken ribs. The team hopes 2026 brings a bit more health to their roster.

By trading out of the first round, the 49ers went from six to eight picks. Per Shanahan, “That’s kind of what we were hoping for,” as he told Rich Eisen. “Our first goal was that the guy we wanted would fall to 27, but we got our second goal, and that was to trade back twice, accumulate some more picks, and still get the guy.

The 49ers ended up picking wideout De’Zhaun Stribling with the 33rd pick. According to Shanahan, they would’ve drafted him at 30. Stribling was projected as a third-rounder. Therefore, it was an eye-opening statement that they were even willing to pick him at 30.

De’Zhaun Stribling’s profile

A five-year College Football player, Stribling is a big, tall player that has a great straight-line speed, as his 4.36-second 40-yard dash showed. He is a great vertical threat. Stribling also has great hands, but he has a very specific skill set. He goes deep, that’s it.

Stribling doesn’t have great release or change of directions. However, given that the 49ers have people like Mike Evans and Ricky Pearsall on the roster, what they lack is a true vertical threat, the rest is covered. Hence, it was mostly the fact that they could fill a hole on the roster by picking Stribling.

The 49ers projected offensive lineup in 2026

The offensive line will be spearheaded by left tackle Trent Williams joined by guards Robert Jones and Dominick Puni, center Jake Brendel, and right tackle Colton McKivitz. They will be in charge of pass protection and run blocking. As for Stribling, he’s not expected to be a starter.

QB- Brock Purdy
RB- Christian McCaffrey
TE- George Kittle*
LWR- Mike Evans
RWR- Ricky Pearsall
SWR- Christian Kirk

*Nursing injury.

Per Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Shanahan was fully expecting on receiving calls for Mac Jones and was surprised that those didn’t happen. He then reported that Shanahan expects Jones to be back with the team for next season after no business was made.

Jones played a key role last season when Brock Purdy got injured. As the backup quarterback, Jones entered the mix and delivered. Jones started eight games and had a 5-3 record. He completed 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Shanahan should’ve tried to keep the 49ers first-rounder

San Francisco had the 27th pick but traded down to the 30th with the Dolphins, who also gave the 90th pick. Then, they traded that 30th pick with the Jets for pick no.33 and a fifth-rounder (179). Hence, no picks were made in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

However, was this wise? The 49ers had two glaring holes to address. They need a wide receiver more, and they need offensive line help. By trading down, they allowed the Jets to take one of the wideouts on the board. Also, at this point, no top-tier linemen remains. It might have been a costly mistake.

49ers GM Lynch explained the reasoning behind the trades

John Lynch stated, “Now, I will tell you we don’t have a ton of picks in this draft, so it does make some sense to where, ‘How can we find some more picks?’ And we’ll certainly be open to that.” Now, having more picks doesn’t translate to having better players.

That’s the challenge now. The 49ers need to show more capital means a better roster. It’s usually in round 1 where you find those immediate gamechangers. This doesn’t mean that you can’t find them later, but it’s way, way tougher.