San Francisco 49ers Could Be Without Mike Evans For More Games

Mike Evans was ruled out of the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 7 game© X/@NFL

The San Francisco 49ers had found a way to keep winning without one of their biggest offensive weapons, but that did not mean they were ready to move forward without him. Mike Evans had missed two straight games with an Achilles injury, and his return did not look close. With the Dallas Cowboys waiting on Sunday, San Francisco made another move to strengthen its receiving group by bringing in Keenan Allen. The trade raised questions about how long Evans might remain unavailable in the field.

Why Mike Evans could miss more games

Mike Evans was not expected to take part in the 49ers' Wednesday practice, according to reports following the team's update.

That left his chances of playing against Dallas in a doubt. NFL insider Mike Garafolo had already described the veteran receiver as 'questionable at best' for Week 10.

And San Francisco had little reason to take risks with a player it needed for the second half of the season.   Where the 49ers had won their last game against the Las Vegas Raiders and carry a 7-1 record into Week 10, giving them some room to manage his recovery.

With NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco, however, saw Evans' absence as a much bigger issue than a few missed regular-season games. He believed San Francisco's championship hopes depended heavily on getting its top receiver back.

"If the missing piece is missing, the 49ers will be missing out on a championship," Maiocco said.

He pointed to the difference Evans made before the injury, his ability to keep drives alive and give Brock Purdy a dependable target. Maiocco added that the receiver had joined San Francisco on a below-market contract because he believed the team could give him a genuine shot at another Super Bowl.

Keenan Allen gives San Francisco time to wait

The 49ers' decision to get Keenan Allen from the Indianapolis Colts for a 2027 sixth-round pick gave Kyle Shanahan another experienced option at receiver.

It could prove useful against the Cowboys, with Evans unavailable and injuries affecting the position.

FanSided's Nick San Miguel viewed the move as a chance for San Francisco to avoid rushing Evans back. Allen offered a similar big-bodied receiving option and had the experience to help the offense move the chains, particularly on third downs.

Grant Cohn of the San Francisco Chronicle questioned what the trade suggested about Evans' recovery. He viewed Allen's arrival as a possible sign that the 49ers were preparing for an extended absence instead of expecting their top receiver back soon.

There is a clear difference in what Allen and Evans brought to the offense. Allen could provide dependable catches, but replacing Evans' impact was a much harder task. San Francisco had already seen what its offense could do without him.