The San Francisco 49ers hoped to have Mike Evans back on the practice field this week. Their latest timetable for the veteran wide receiver isn’t as encouraging.
49ers president of football operations and general manager John Lynch said the team hopes Evans, who is dealing with an adductor injury, will return to practice next week, according to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard on September 1.
Last week, Shanahan said Evans was dealing with a groin issue. Now, it’s an adductor.
That represents a change from the timetable head coach Kyle Shanahan offered only a week earlier. On August 25, Shanahan said Evans was dealing with groin tightness and that San Francisco hoped to get him back “next week” — referring to the week beginning August 31. The 49ers’ own website subsequently listed Evans among the players expected to return that week.
Evans has not made that return yet, and Lynch’s latest projection pushes the target another week closer to San Francisco’s September 10 season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
There has been no indication that Evans aggravated the injury, so it would be premature to label the changed timeline a confirmed setback. But with Week 1 approaching, it’s nevertheless a disappointing development for the 49ers and their new No. 1 receiver.
Here’s what it means.
Mike Evans’ Return Timeline Has Changed
The situation looked considerably more encouraging just days ago.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on August 26 that Evans planned to play in Week 1 and that his groin issue was considered minor barring a change.
There was even optimism from the 49ers on August 31. The team’s official website reported that Shanahan said Evans was “ahead of schedule” in his recovery from a groin strain and could potentially practice before San Francisco departed for Australia.
Evans worked separately from the team during Monday’s practice rather than participating in the session.
Lynch’s September 1 update therefore changes the picture again.
If Evans does not practice until next week, the 33-year-old could have only a limited number of on-field sessions to prepare for his first regular-season game with quarterback Brock Purdy and the 49ers offense.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Evans will miss Week 1. But it makes his availability — and how large a workload San Francisco could reasonably give him if he plays — more noteworthy.
Evans Has Dealt With Multiple Injuries in First 49ers Camp
The latest issue has added to an interrupted first training camp in San Francisco for Evans.
Evans initially missed practice in early August because of a quadriceps strain, according to the 49ers. He eventually returned as a full participant on August 15 before later being sidelined by the groin issue.
That lost practice time matters for a player who is learning Shanahan’s offense after spending the first 12 seasons of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Evans joined San Francisco after compiling 866 receptions, 13,052 receiving yards and 108 touchdown catches during his Buccaneers career, all Tampa Bay franchise records. He had 30 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns in eight games during an injury-shortened 2025 season.
The 49ers did not bring Evans in merely to provide veteran depth. He is expected to give Purdy a proven outside target and red-zone weapon, making his availability particularly significant as San Francisco prepares for a divisional opponent in Week 1.
49ers Face Tight Window Before Rams Game in Australia
San Francisco’s unusual Week 1 schedule adds another wrinkle.
The 49ers are preparing for an approximately 8,000-mile trip to Melbourne for their September 10 matchup against Los Angeles, forcing the team to account for travel and acclimation while setting its Week 1 roster.
That makes every missed practice more significant than it might be during a normal opening week.
There remains reason for optimism. Evans has not been ruled out against the Rams, and the previous reporting indicated both the player and team expected the injury to be manageable.
But the goalposts have moved.
A week after Shanahan hoped Evans would return to practice during the week of August 31, Lynch is now pointing toward the following week. Until Evans actually gets back onto the practice field, his readiness for the 49ers’ opener will remain one of the team’s biggest offensive questions heading into Week 1.
49ers Give Disappointing Mike Evans Injury Update Before Rams Game