There is no real consensus on where to draft Evans in 2026 -- the only agreement is that you should definitely not draft him before Round 5. Evans, who will turn 33 before the season starts, has already suffered and returned from a calf injury in the early days of 49ers training camp. It's a reminder of the 12 games he's missed over the last two seasons due to hamstring and collarbone issues. His fit in this offense could be as good as it was for Davante Adams with the Rams last season, but over the last three years this offense has only thrown 51% of its passes to wide receivers, and the offense is fairly stocked with Deebo Samuel back, rookie De'Zhaun Stribling making preseason plays and eventually George Kittle and Christian Kirk coming back to the field. Evans also just averaged a career-low 46 yards per game and 5.9 yards per target. He is best viewed as a boom-or-bust WR3 who could be much better than that if he scores double-digit touchdowns -- and stays on the field.
49ers' Mike Evans: Injury issue downplayed by Shanahan
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Kyle Shanahan said after Tuesday's joint practice with the Chargers that Evans experienced some quadriceps tightness, and the coach doesn't believe the issue is a serious one, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Evans initially left Tuesday's session and had his left foot/ankle wrapped and iced, but he eventually moved that wrapping to his left quad. He previously missed early training-camp practices due to a quadriceps issue, so it appears to be a slight aggravation of the previous concern. Shanahan's comments indicate the 49ers aren't concerned about Evans' health, but the team likely will exercise caution with the veteran wide receiver with two preseason games remaining before Week 1.
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49ers' Mike Evans: Slowed by lower-body injury
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Evans exited Tuesday's joint practice with the Chargers due to an injury to his left foot or ankle, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Evans made an early departure Tuesday to have his left foot wrapped and iced, but he later removed the tape job while watching the remainder of the session from the sideline, per Wagoner. Evans previously dealt with a quadriceps injury early on in training camp, so his transition from Tampa Bay to San Francisco hasn't exactly gone swimmingly. However, he remains on track to begin the regular season at the top of a revamped wide receiver depth chart that also includes a repatriated Deebo Samuel, veteran slot option Christian Kirk (calf) and 2026 second-round pick De'Zhaun Stribling.
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49ers' Mike Evans: Working in team drills Saturday
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Evans (quadriceps) participated in team drills during Saturday's training camp practice, Noah Furtado of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Evans has slowly been working his way back from a quad strain that he sustained in early August. He was cleared to participate in individual drills prior to Thursday's preseason opener against the Titans, which he did not suit up for. Evans' ability to work in team drills is a positive sign, and he would be on track to play against the Chargers on Thursday if the 49ers' starters suit up for that contest.
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49ers' Mike Evans: Not suited up Thursday
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Evans (quadriceps) is not dressed in uniform for Thursday night's preseason opener against the Titans, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Evans has been dealing with a minor quad strain for the past week and returned to practice Tuesday. Considering his veteran status and recent injury, it's not surprising to see Evans in street clothes for the exhibition with Tennessee. As long as he avoids setbacks, Evans should be ready to rock for the Niners' Week 1 regular-season opener against the Rams on Thursday, Sept. 10.
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49ers' Mike Evans: Gets in individual work
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Evans (quadriceps) took part primarily in individual drills at Tuesday's joint practice with the Titans, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
After a week away from the practice field due to a minor quad strain, Evans was back in action, albeit in a limited capacity. Easing him back in isn't a surprise considering the cautious approach the 49ers have taken with Evans' injury. Even if he doesn't suit up for Thursday's preseason contest against the Titans, he still has one month to get healthy for the team's Week 1 matchup with the Rams in Melbourne, Australia on Thursday, Sept. 10.
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49ers' Mike Evans: Present for practice Tuesday
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Evans (quadriceps) is in pads and taking part in warmups ahead of Tuesday's joint practice with the Titans, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Evans has been sidelined since last Monday due to a strained quad, but the 49ers have downplayed the injury all along. After a week off, he appears poised to mix back in Tuesday. Considering the cautious approach the team has taken with Evans, he may not have received clearance for all drills, and it remains to be seen if he'll be allowed to suit up for Thursday's preseason game.
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49ers' Mike Evans: Nearing return to practice
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Coach Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers continue to "be smart with" Evans (quadriceps), who didn't practice Saturday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Evans was able to work out on the side Saturday and looked close to 100 percent, per Wagoner, but as Shanahan clarified they won't press the veteran wide receiver back into action prematurely. Evans has been sidelined this week due to a minor quad strain, and with San Francisco's season opener still more than a month away Thursday, Sept. 10 against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia, he has plenty of time to prove his health for games that matter. Meanwhile, fellow WRs Christian Kirk (calf) and Jacob Cowing (hip) remain sidelined as well, leaving Deebo Samuel, rookie second-round pick De'Zhaun Stribling, Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Watkins as the top available players at the position.
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49ers' Mike Evans: Remains sidelined
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Evans (quadriceps) didn't practice Wednesday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
The same can be said for fellow wide receivers Christian Kirk (calf), De'Zhaun Stribling (hamstring) and Jacob Cowing (hip). When Evans initially sat out Monday's session, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the 13-year pro was dealing with a minor quad strain, and the 49ers were slated to ease him back in until he's fully healthy.
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49ers' Mike Evans: Minor quad strain
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Evans, who didn't practice Monday, is tending to a minor quad strain, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
In a San Francisco receiving corps that already has lost Ricky Pearsall (knee, IR) for the season, Evans joined Christian Kirk (calf) and rookie second-rounder De'Zhaun Stribling (hamstring) on the sideline during Monday's session. Rapoport suggested the 49ers will give Evans a lighter workload until he's back to 100 percent, but in the meantime, Deebo Samuel will serve as the team's top available option at the position, while Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing should see more first-team reps.
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49ers' Mike Evans: Not practicing, but catches passes
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Evans (quadriceps) didn't don a uniform at Monday's practice, but he did make some stationary over-the-shoulder catches during special-teams drills, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
Evans is the latest 49ers wide receiver to miss practice due to injury, with Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reporting the 13-year pro is dealing with a strained quad. With Ricky Pearsall (knee) on injured reserve and out for the season and Christian Kirk (calf) and rookie second-round De'Zhaun Stribling (hamstring) also tending to health concerns, Deebo Samuel is the clear-cut top available player at the position for San Francisco, while Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins and Jacob Cowing are next up for reps.
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49ers' Mike Evans: Has strained quad
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Evans (quad) won't practice Monday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
With Evans now dealing with a quad strain, the 49ers are banged up at wideout at the moment. On top of Ricky Pearsall's (knee) placement on IR, Christian Kirk is dealing with a calf injury, while De'Zhaun Stribling is managing hamstring tightness. For now, consider Evans day-to-day ahead of the team's Aug. 13 preseason opener against the Titans.
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49ers' Mike Evans: Winning over teammates and coaches
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Evans is making a strong impression at voluntary OTAs and feels rejuvenated after an injury-plagued 2025, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
"I pinch myself every day," said teammate George Kittle, who then told reporters that Evans caught "three to five" TDs in a red-zone period. Dominance in unpadded practices doesn't mean much, especially for a player who already has such a strong track record, but it's a good sign that Evans is fitting in with the 49ers and earning praise from fellow future Hall of Famers like Kittle and LT Trent Williams. The 32-year-old wideout seems to have been a full participant throughout the voluntary offseason program, acclimating quickly to Kyle Shanahan's offense.
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49ers' Mike Evans: Joining forces with Kyle Shanahan
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Evans is in line to sign a three-year contract with the 49ers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Evans' agent released a statement Monday confirming that the wideout will leave Tampa Bay after 12 seasons. He showed some signs of decline in 2025 and now will turn 33 before Week 1 of 2026, but it's hard to think of a better location for Evans to regain fantasy value -- especially if fellow free agent Jauan Jennings doesn't return to San Francisco. The 49ers have a breakout candidate in Ricky Pearsall, but there's not much else of note in the WR room unless Jennings re-signs (which isn't likely at this point).
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Buccaneers' Mike Evans: May not return to Tampa Bay
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Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that Evans will explore his options in free agency and may not return to the Buccaneers for the 2026 season.
Evans was selected by the Buccaneers in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He has spent his entire professional career in Tampa Bay, where he posted 11 consecutive seasons of 1,000-plus receiving yards, earned six Pro Bowl selections and played a key role in the Buccaneers' Super Bowl LV run in 2020. Evans was limited to just eight regular-season games in 2025 due to a hamstring injury and broken collarbone. While he turns 33 before the start of the 2026 season, Evans will garner interest from several teams looking for a significant upgrade to their wide receiver corps.
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Buccaneers' Mike Evans: Will play in 2026
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Evans will continue his playing career in 2026, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
Evans will turn 33 years old in August but will play a 13th NFL season. He was limited to a career-low eight regular-season contests in 2025 as he dealt with hamstring and collarbone injuries in addition to a concussion. When on the field, Evans was still productive, securing 30 of 62 targets for 368 yards and three touchdowns. The six-time Pro Bowler should have plenty of interest around the league if he decides to test free agency, but a return to Tampa Bay -- the only team he's ever played for in the NFL -- is the most likely outcome.
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Buccaneers' Mike Evans: Salvages day with TD
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Evans brought in three of seven targets for 31 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 20-17 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday.
Evans was enduring a mostly miserable afternoon before he was able to secure a four-yard touchdown grab with just under a minute remaining to give the Buccaneers some fleeting hope. Otherwise, the perennial Pro Bowler was mostly a non-factor, albeit while crossing the 13,000-yard career mark on one of his earlier catches. Evans has back-to-back 31-yard, one-touchdown efforts, and the team he secured the first of those against, the Panthers, await in a Week 18 home matchup for Tampa Bay that presents a chance for the Bucs to still win the division, with a Week 18 win coupled with a Falcons loss in one of the next two games.
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Buccaneers' Mike Evans: Gets into end zone Sunday
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Evans secured five of nine targets for 31 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 23-20 loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
Evans appeared to be on his way to a big day when he hauled in a one-yard scoring pass with just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter, but he was relatively contained the rest of the afternoon. His day also closed out on a sour note, as Scott Smith of the team's official site reports Evans misread Baker Mayfield's intentions on a fourth-quarter pass that resulted in a game-sealing interception for Carolina. The Buccaneers still have a chance to win the NFC South by prevailing in their final two contests, however, so Evans will be locked in during a Week 17 road matchup against a beatable Dolphins secondary.
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Buccaneers' Mike Evans: Good to go
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Evans (collarbone/rest) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Panthers.
Evans returned from a long-term absence last week, catching six of 12 targets for 132 yards in a 29-28 loss to the Falcons. He finished out this week with a full practice, so it won't come as any surprise if he gets a boost in playing time relative to last week's 54 percent snap share.
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Buccaneers' Mike Evans: Receives Thursday off
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Evans (collarbone/rest) was listed as a non-participant in Thursday's practice.
Evans had previously been listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice while he continued to get extra maintenance for his fractured collarbone, which kept him out for six games before he returned to action in last Thursday's 29-28 loss to the Falcons. Though a mid-week downgrade in practice activity is normally worrisome, the fact that the Buccaneers are also attributing Evans' absence to rest suggests that Thursday may have been a pre-planned off day for the veteran wideout. Assuming Evans is able to practice Friday in some fashion, he should be ready to play a full complement of snaps in Sunday's game at Carolina.
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Buccaneers' Mike Evans: Logs limited practice Wednesday
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Evans (collarbone) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Evans returned to action last Thursday against the Falcons for the first time since breaking his collarbone during Week 7 action at Detroit, and he managed to log a 54 percent snap share en route to six catches (on 12 targets) for 132 yards. His practice limitations this week likely are related to maintenance, but his status still bears watching as the weekend draws closer to ensure he'll be available Sunday in Carolina.
