49ers' Kyle Shanahan reveals Mike Evans injury update

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

49ers' Kyle Shanahan reveals Mike Evans injury update for Week 4 vs. Broncos

By Olamilekan Ajayi | Last updated Oct 2, 2026 6:17 PM ET

Mike Evans has opened each of the last two San Francisco 49ers games with early production, and both ended with him hurt. He had three catches for 54 yards against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2 before a hip injury. In Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals, he had three catches for 34 yards and a touchdown, then was carted off in the second quarter with a rib injury.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Friday that Evans will be a game-time decision for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium.

Evans is officially questionable after missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

Right after the 36-30 win over Arizona, the team could not yet pin down the injury.

"We don't know yet," Shanahan said after the game. "We couldn't tell if it was a broken rib; we couldn't tell if it was an oblique, so it's something we'll find out probably more tomorrow."

By Monday, Evans was considered day-to-day with a rib strain, and Shanahan sounded more encouraged.

"It shouldn't be long-term. We've got to see how it goes throughout the week," Shanahan said. "Guys have been in this position before, so we'll see how it goes."

Kyle Shanahan said WR Mike Evans, who is dealing with a rib injury, will be a game-time decision.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 2, 2026

What the 49ers' receiver room looks like without Evans

Evans is just the latest key receiver San Francisco has lost to injury this season. Christian Kirk (calf) and Demarcus Robinson (ankle) are on injured reserve, and De'Zhaun Stribling was hurt in the season-opening win over the Los Angeles Rams. Ricky Pearsall was lost to a season-ending knee injury in August.

The healthy group is Deebo Samuel Sr., Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing and Brandin Cooks, who was promoted to the 53-man roster on Thursday. Malik Turner and Dante Pettis are on the practice squad.

The Arizona box score reveals how much ran through Evans. Watkins was the only other receiver credited with a catch. Samuel scored an 80-yard touchdown on a hook-and-ladder without officially catching a pass, after Evans caught the ball and pitched it to him.

The Sunday decision settles only whether Evans takes the field. In each of the last two games, the 49ers have had to finish without him, so they need a plan for that even if he is active.

The Broncos arrive at 2-1 after beating the Rams on Sunday night.

Olamilekan Ajayi

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