Mike Evans injury update: Latest on 49ers star’s status after Week 6 exit

LATEST Oct. 19, 8:30 p.m.The 49ers were able to hang on and win on Monday night after Mike Evans left in the first half and didn’t return. But they may finally have to be prepared for a game without their star receiver.

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According to NBC Sports Bay Area reporter Jennifer Lee Chan, Evans is expected to “miss a little time” with the Achilles injury he aggravated on Monday night. The 49ers play at the Falcons in Week 7 before they have their bye in Week 8, so there’s a window to get Evans some extended rest while potentially only missing one game.

But it’s clear the offense suffered without Evans. The 49ers only scored three points in the second half of Monday’s 23-17 win over the Commanders and saw their offense go three-and-out three times in the final two quarters. San Francisco’s banged-up receiving corps wasn’t able to get open, Washington packed the line of scrimmage and made life difficult for the Niners. Thankfully for the undefeated season, the 49ers defense came through and held on for the win.

Oct. 19, 7:00 p.m. The 49ers have ruled Mike Evans out for the remainder of Monday’s game against the Commanders with an Achilles injury.

Evans didn’t practice all week prior to the game with the Achilles injury and a rib injury, but suited up to play through the pain. But Evans left the game late in the first half after he made a catch and stayed down on the field in pain. It’s the second time in six weeks that Evans has left a game early and did not return, doing so in Week 3 when he fractured two ribs midgame.

Oct. 19, 6:30 p.m. Mike Evans went back to the 49ers locker room just before halftime on Monday after he suffered an injury catching a pass from Brock Purdy.

Evans, who did not practice all week with injuries to his ribs and his Achilles tendon, gingerly walked off under his own power with a 49ers trainer and doctor. ESPN’s broadcast showed Evans stretching his Achilles during a media timeout earlier in the drive. The Niners said Evans is questionable to return.

Evans caught the pass before his injury and finished the first half with three receptions for 94 yards. The 49ers lead the Commanders 20-3 at halftime.

Oct. 19, 3:45 p.m. Star 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans will be active and is expected to play, despite missing practice all week with rib and Achilles injuries.

Evans was not among the seven Niners made inactive for the matchup with the Washington Commanders, and he’s expected to play through the fractured rib injury for the third week in a row.

Oct. 19, 1:15 p.m. The 49ers haven’t given any update on whether Mike Evans will play on Monday night, but they’ve decided Christian Kirk is not going to play.

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The 49ers had until 1 p.m. to decide whether they wanted to activate Kirk off injured reserve and onto the 53-man roster. But San Francisco made only two roster moves on Monday, elevating wide receiver Malik Turner and linebacker Jalen Graham from the practice squad. It means Kirk can’t play against the Commanders.

Kirk was placed on injured reserve after training camp with a calf injury that has hampered him for weeks. Kirk finally returned to practice on Thursday and was a limited participant all week but didn’t do enough to convince Niners leadership that he was ready to make his red and gold debut.

ESPN insider Adam Schefter said the 49ers are “optimistic” Evans can play on Monday despite not practicing all week. If he is able to go, it will give the 49ers five wide receivers on the active roster.

Oct. 19, 11:55 a.m. The San Francisco 49ers have just three healthy wide receivers on the active roster going into Monday night’s game against the Washington Commanders, leaving many 49ers fans hitting refresh over and over on the status of two key receivers: Mike Evans and Christian Kirk.

Coming off a legendary performance against the Seahawks, Evans did not practice all week, with injuries to his ribs and Achilles tendon. But he’s listed as questionable to play for the 49ers, and in an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday morning, ESPN insider Adam Schefter said the 49ers are “optimistic” that Evans will be able to play on Monday night, something he’s done all season long.

Kirk, meanwhile, had been nursing the calf injury that got him placed on injured reserve before the season began. But the veteran, who signed with San Francisco this offseason, returned to practice in a limited capacity all week. He’s listed as questionable for Monday’s game but remains on injured reserve. The 49ers will have to announce if he’s being activated for the game by 1 p.m. on Monday.

The 49ers have had practically their entire wide receiver room suffer an injury this season, and that’s not to mention the one that came before the season: Ricky Pearsall suffered a season-ending knee injury during training camp. Rookie De’Zhaun Stribling is out for at least another month with an ankle injury, Demarcus Robinson is still out with a high ankle sprain, and Deebo Samuel is expected to miss multiple weeks with a hamstring injury. The 49ers even signed former second-round pick Dante Pettis to the practice squad, only to see Pettis suffer a calf injury in his first week of practice and be unable to play. (Pettis was waived with an injury settlement.)

Evans has been banged up almost every week since training camp began, missing time with a quad strain, a foot injury and a pulled groin. During the season, Evans suffered a hip injury in Week 2, and then he fractured two ribs in Week 3. He’s continued to play through the pain, and he shone in the rivalry matchup with the Seahawks last week, though he reported some type of Achilles injury this week in addition to the ribs.

Outside of the veteran duo, the 49ers have only the aforementioned trio of healthy wide receivers on the active roster: Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing and veteran Brandin Cooks, who already caught a key touchdown last week after San Francisco signed him in the middle of the season.