The Niners are walking into the City in a Forest looking to keep their record perfect in the 2026 NFL season. Atop the NFC standings with a 6-0 record, San Francisco faces the 2-4 Atlanta Falcons with a lot on the line and a steep climb ahead to make it out alive. Brock Purdy will be without two key weapons, with both Evans and Samuel ruled out by the 49ers.

Mike Evans has been haunted by injuries all year long. Even though he had played in all six games for San Francisco in 2026, he had seemingly always arrived on game day with a questionable tag next to his name.

In Week 7, however, he has no such designation heading into kickoff. Instead, he’s been ruled out entirely with an Achilles injury. The veteran wideout had also been dealing with a rib injury.

Deebo Samuel’s injury

As for Samuel, the shifty playmaker is dealing with an injury considered more serious than Evans’. Samuel remains sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained in Week 5 of the 2026 NFL campaign.

According to reports, Samuel is expected to miss several weeks. However, the Niners don’t plan on placing him on Injured Reserve (IR), as they have a bye scheduled for Week 8. Still, his health remains something to keep an eye on moving forward.

Niners’ WR depth chart

With Evans and Samuel out of the picture, the Niners will roll into Atlanta with the following active WR room: Brandin Cooks, Jordan Watkins, and Jacob Cowing. Kirk could join the mix, as reports suggest he’ll be activated off IR. Other injured wide receivers on IR include Ricky Pearsall, Demarcus Robinson, and De’Zhaun Stribling.

National Tight Ends Day

If there’s a sliver of hope for San Francisco’s passing game, it’s that Week 7 falls on National Tight Ends Day (the fourth Sunday of October), with founding father George Kittle almost always making his presence felt on the special occasion.

Key takeaways

• Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel are ruled out for the San Francisco 49ers against Atlanta.
• An Achilles injury sidelines Mike Evans after playing in the first six games this season.
• A Week 5 hamstring injury keeps Deebo Samuel sidelined for several weeks without going to IR.

Despite the cautious designation on the team’s official injury report, head coach Kyle Shanahan and the front office are preparing to make an aggressive roster move. The franchise is expected to formally activate Kirk off injured reserve in time to suit up on game day for his season debut. Kirk should play a big part in this game.

His anticipated return provides an immediate spark for an offense searching for answers. With standout playmaker Mike Evans ruled completely out for the contest, getting Kirk back on the field suddenly becomes vital for San Francisco’s passing attack to produce the good vs. Falcons.

Kirk has proven veteran pedigree

Drafted in the second round back in 2018, Kirk has developed into one of the league’s most reliable and savvy intermediate targets over his eight-year career. He has posted a 1,000-yard campaign, hauled in over 400 career receptions, and consistently proved he can serve as a dependable chain-mover.

That clutch ability took center stage during last season’s playoffs. Kirk delivered an explosive eight-catch, 144-yard masterclass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during Wild Card Weekend. The wideout has a veteran poise that can become crucial for the 49ers offense.

Kirk is a crucial slot weapon replacing an outside threat

Kirk’s activation does not mean he will simply take over Evans‘ responsibilities on the field. Evans thrives outside the numbers by utilizing his size and vertical prowess. Meanwhile, Kirk operates as an elite route-running technician primarily stationed in the slot.

By moving Kirk inside, the 49ers will naturally remodel their offensive rhythm against Atlanta’s secondary. Instead of relying on contested deep sideline throws, San Francisco can exploit quick mismatches over the middle of the field and keep drives alive on third downs.

Key takeaways

• Christian Kirk is listed as questionable while Mike Evans is ruled out vs Falcons.
• The 49ers expect to activate Christian Kirk off injured reserve for his debut.
• Christian Kirk posted 144 yards against Pittsburgh during last season’s Wild Card Weekend.

Otherwise, there are no concerns to be had. Whenever he’s on the field, Evans has been a force to be reckoned with and a key weapon for Brock Purdy and the 49ers to exploit, especially in short-yardage situations, on crucial downs, and in red-zone opportunities.

Entering Week 6’s Monday Night Football matchup against the Washington Commanders, the Niners are already without Deebo Samuel. Missing Evans would have been an even tougher blow to San Francisco’s WR depth chart, although the likes of Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle would’ve helped fans forget about the injured talent if they have a strong outing in Santa Clara.

Being affected by the rib injury he sustained in Week 3 of the NFL season, Evans was listed as questionable to play against the Commanders in Week 6. However, he’s now been confirmed active and in full force to face Washington in Monday Night Football.

Evans’ injury update

As reported by ESPN and NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Evans is confirmed active for Week 6’s game against the Commanders. Even though the veteran wide receiver didn’t practice throughout the week, he is good to go against Washington.

According to Rapoport, Evans isn’t the only veteran wideout who will be active on Monday Night Football. Although there were questions on whether Stefon Diggs would play or not, the Commanders’ wideout will be active, too.

Evans’ stats

Although he’s been questionable to play ahead of virtually every game this year, Evans has yet to miss a single week of action. And he’s making his outings count.

So far this season, Evans has recorded 24 receptions for 326 yards and three touchdowns. He’s coming off his best performance of the season, having caught seven passes for 113 yards and a score against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5.

Key takeaways

• San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans is active in Week 6.
• Reports varied on whether Evans would play or not, with the majority inclining towards him being active in Week 6.
• Mike Evans has logged 24 receptions for 326 yards and three touchdowns this season.

According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, Mike Evans is off the injury report and will play vs Seahawks. Mike Evans’ career as a 49er has started great. He has 17 catches in 24 targets for 213 yards and two touchdowns.

Having Mike Evans on the field is absolutely key for the 49ers as the Seahawks are one of the best defenses in the NFL. Hence, it’s important to have a weapon like Evans to have a chance at winning against them.

Evans is bulletproof

Mike Evans is a veteran, but the 33-year-old is just a tough player. He has played in too many games with injuries. In fact, Evans’ list of injuries is really lengthy, yet he has missed more than four games in a season just once in his career.

Even if he plays all banged up, Evans is always a threat, and also a red zone menace. He stands at 6’5″ and 231 lbs, so he is a mismatch. Also, he has a trademark fade route that is a recipe for touchdowns.

The Seahawks are a threat to the 49ers’ unbeaten record

Only three teams remain undefeated this season: the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, and the Minnesota Vikings. The Seahawks are 3-1 and are at home, and the defense is as elite as you can find in the NFL.

Hence, the Seahawks are absolutely and positively the biggest threat to the 49ers perfect record. Also, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has a 4-1 record against Kyle Shanahan.

“WR Mike Evans (ribs) officially active,” Mike Garafolo reported on X ahead of San Francisco’s home game against Denver in Week 4 of the NFL campaign.

Evans was dealing with a rib injury sustained last week during San Francisco’s win over the Arizona Cardinals. Evans exited the game on a cart, sending fear through Niners fans. Fortunately, Evans’ injury update after his exit against the Cardinals avoided a worst-case scenario, but he may be a little bit rusty in Week 4 of the 2026 NFL season against the Broncos. Time will tell.

Evans keeps his promise

According to Rapoport, Evans admitted “he’ll do his best to be out there,” at Levi’s Stadium in Week 4 against Denver. That’s encouraging for fans and exactly the kind of message Shanahan and the rest of the team wanted to hear from their veteran wideout. However, there’s also a fine line between being brave and resilient and rushing one’s way back onto the gridiron.

Indeed, Evans has had trouble staying healthy in San Francisco, but it’s also only Week 4. There is a long year ahead, and the Niners would rather miss Evans early on than have him risk an even worse setback. Plus, the offense has been firing on all cylinders as of late, riding on the shoulders of Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle.

The Broncos have one of the best defenses in the NFL, so having Evans available would help, but if he isn’t fully healthy, there might be more to lose than to gain for the 49ers. In the end, Evans is active against Denver, so it seems the medical staff have seen enough out of him to give the green light.

Evans’ stats in 2026

So far this season, Evans has appeared in three games but only completed two of them. Operating in a new offense and surroundings, Evans has already proven his reliability to Purdy, catching 12 of 16 targets for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

Key takeaways

• Officially active for Week 4 despite a rib injury.
• Ian Rapoport reported a pregame workout tested Evans’ pain tolerance.
• Has caught 12 of 16 targets for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Evans is dealing with a rib injury and will be evaluated again tomorrow. For now, the 49ers must deal with the fact that he will probably be sidelined for weeks depending on the severity of the heat.

Before exiting the game against the Cardinals, Evans had three catches in six targets for 34 yards and a touchdown. Evans is a focal point of the offense. Without him, the 49ers must adapt heavily.

That is not the only injury suffered by the 49ers during game vs Cardinals

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, left tackle Trent Williams, who left the game carted out, is dealing with a stinger. That complicates things for the 49ers during this game as Williams is a soon-to-be first-ballot Hall of Famer. However, the positive news is stingers tend to last a day or two, and he shouldn’t miss any games.

The 49ers have dealt with huge injuries for years now, even starting a full investigation to see if the electrical substation in front of their facility was causing tissues to soften or causing injuries. It seems like they are injury-plagued year after year.

Mike Evans is the undoubted WR1 of the team

Replacing Evans is no easy feat. He is an elite receiver, a Super Bowl champion, and has reached the 1,000-yard mark in all but one season in his career. Given that the 49ers lost Ricky Pearsall for all season, and they won’t count with Brandon Aiyuk for extra curricular reasons, Evans is a need not a luxury.

Without him, Deebo Samuel will turn into the WR1. However, Samuel, who is a veteran, is more of a gadget player than a volume, go-to receiver. This could mean that tight end George Kittle becomes the primary pass-catcher of the team.

Key takeaways

• Wide receiver Mike Evans suffered a rib injury against the Arizona Cardinals and was ruled out.
• Before exiting the game, the wideout recorded three catches for 34 yards and one touchdown.
• Left tackle Trent Williams left the game after suffering a stinger.

Evans suffered with a quad and abductor injury during training camp. However, Evans stated the injuries weren’t “significant.” Hence, he should be able to go all out vs. Rams to start the season.

The 49ers hope Mike Evans can become their WR1 as he signed a three-year contract. Evans, who has a long history of hamstring issues, is still one of the most productive wide receivers of this era, going for more than 1,000 yards in 11 out of 12 seasons.

Mike Evans could be an endzone menace for the 49ers

At 33 years old, Evans is no longer in his prime years. However, he is still talented and physically imposing. When the 49ers enter the red zone, Evans instantly becomes the best target available.

With his size (6’5″) and safe hands, Evans is virtually unstoppable when running a fade route into the endzone. Head coach Kyle Shanahan should be eager to see him reel in touchdowns.

Evans full injury history

While it seems like he will be ready to go against the Rams in Australia, Evans still has plenty of injuries in his career. Hence, every time he steps on the field, you will either be amazed by his plays or concerned for his health.

“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

Speaking to NFL Network, Emeka Egbuka spoke on Mike Evans, saying he was a great mentor, but also stated that the offense “won’t miss any beats” now that he’s gone. Egbuka had a brilliant rookie season, especially in the first half of the year, so there is plenty of hope that he delivers as the WR1 now.

Egbuka might play with a quarterback who holds a grudge. Baker Mayfield warned the Buccaneers and told them they’ll regret the decision to not give him a contract. However, he also needs a contract, so he must play at a top level, which favors Egbuka.

Bucs’ WR depth chart

Mike Evans was the absolute face of this franchise. However, Egbuka was right when he said the Bucs offense shouldn’t miss a beat. Their WR room is still stacked with talent.

• Emeka Egbuka
• Chris Godwin
• Jalen McMillan
• Tez Johnson
• Ted Hurst III
• Kameron Johnson

The Bucs need to make an impression

Todd Bowles can see his job go if things don’t go his way. It also seems like the Bucs will have to shop for a quarterback. Hence, it’s a do-or-die season for them. Otherwise, an imminent rebuild will come.

The Bucs lost the NFC South title for the first time since 2019, and missed the playoffs altogether. The fact is that this is a division that they should have confidence in winning, but locker room messes must be controlled first.

Earlier this week, the 49ers also re-signed Deebo Samuel, updating their wide receiver depth chart. However, they had already secured a top-tier wideout in Evans, a player Purdy is thrilled to work alongside.

“Mike is a different breed when it comes to playing X-receiver,” Purdy told NFL Network. “Having all the abilities and gadgets to run quick routes, medium routes, and then go deep. And honestly, when it looks like he’s covered, still giving him a chance and having him go up and get it—I’ve never really had that in my career.“

Mike Evans lands in an ideal offensive scheme

In head coach Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers possess one of the finest offensive minds in the NFL. Shanahan has guided Brock Purdy into an elite distributor, even while navigating persistent injuries across the skill positions over recent seasons.

Now, the Niners made the deliberate decision to provide Purdy with a physical, dominant boundary receiver in Evans. While the veteran dealt with an injury-disrupted 2025 campaign, he enters an ideal environment in San Francisco to showcase that he remains a upper-tier playmaker.

A six-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, Evans brings immediate game-changing utility to Purdy’s offense. Paired with fellow veteran Deebo Samuel, the 49ers’ intention is clear: give their quarterback two reliable, experienced sets of hands to elevate his execution and maintain command over the NFC West.

Due to Brandon Aiyuk’s uncertain status and lingering depth concerns, the 49ers decided to bolster their wide receiver room by reuniting with Deebo Samuel. He will join Mike Evans as one of the primary weapons for Brock Purdy, and Evans is thrilled about the addition.

“I met him at the Pro Bowl in 2021. We hit it off. We were hanging out all week. I love the way he plays the game,” Evans said on Friday. “I think he’s gonna bring what he brought before to the team. Energy. Versatility. Hell of a pickup for us.”

Aiming to achieve success in 2026

When the 49ers signed Mike Evans in free agency, the message was clear: winning in 2026 is crucial. Evans remains an elite target, but age is gradually becoming a factor in his career timeline.

With the return of Deebo Samuel, that championship urgency intensifies. Samuel enjoyed standout seasons during his initial tenure in San Francisco, though recent campaigns have been hampered by injury setbacks.

Operating with a veteran tandem whose 2026 season could mark a final championship run together, the 49ers aim to secure a Super Bowl title this year before eventually re-tooling the position.

What will happen with Brandon Aiyuk?

As for Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers still have him on the Reserve/Did Not Report list. The wideout is no longer part of their long-term plans, yet San Francisco has been unable to find a trade partner for him so far.

It appears to be only a matter of time before the 49ers release him. However, rumors suggest an early retirement could also be on the table as he continues struggling to recover successfully from his ACL injury.