The San Francisco 49ers lead the NFC with a 7-1 record despite dealing with a depleted wide receiver group. Mike Evans, a six-time Pro Bowler, has been sidelined since leaving the Week 6 victory over the Washington Commanders with Achilles tendinitis.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Evans is “getting real close” to returning, but did not confirm whether the receiver will play when San Francisco visits the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Shanahan said Evans was closer to playing this week than last week and expressed hope that his recovery would continue to progress.
The coach also stressed that the team would not rush Evans back. Although the receiver is eager to play, San Francisco wants to build him up carefully and avoid a return that could be followed by another absence. Evans has also dealt with a hip injury and fractured ribs, which he played through against the Denver Broncos. He has not practiced since being injured against Washington.
NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo described Evans as “questionable at best” for the Cowboys game on November 8. Garafolo also compared the Achilles issue to the tendinitis that sidelined Christian McCaffrey two seasons ago.
## San Francisco Has Managed Without Evans
When healthy, Evans has delivered the production expected of a No. 1 receiver after signing a three-year deal with the 49ers in the offseason. Through six games, the 33-year-old has recorded 27 catches for 420 yards and three touchdowns on 39 targets. He had three receptions for 94 yards against Washington before leaving shortly before halftime.
The production marked a rebound from his final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when a hamstring injury and broken collarbone limited him to eight games. He finished that season with 30 catches, 368 yards and three touchdowns.
San Francisco has split its two games without Evans. The team suffered its first loss of the season against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7, then returned from its bye to beat the Las Vegas Raiders 38-17, helped by five second-half takeaways. Second-year receiver Jordan Watkins made a leaping 37-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter, with Deebo Samuel also out.
Samuel was limited in practice this week because of a hamstring injury. If he and Evans are both unavailable, quarterback Brock Purdy could again be without the team’s top two receivers when the 49ers face a Cowboys defense that has allowed 236 points in nine games.
