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Mike Evans Downplays Missing Time: ‘none Of My Injuries Were Significant’

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 07: Mike Evans #5 of the San Francisco 49ers speaks to the media during a San Fransisco 49ers NFL media availability at AAMI Park on September 07, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Robert Cianflone/GettyImages)

Several members of the San Francisco 49ers returned to practice.

It’s hard to overstate how important defenders like Renardo Green, Romello Height, and Gracen Halton are to the defense. Depth is already at a premium across the board. The pass rush was bleak in 2025. The rookies will play a big role in the defense’s success.

As much as we focus on the rookies on offense, they’ll go as far as Mike Evans takes them. I get the feeling everybody in the building is aware of that, and that’s why the team has been as cautious with Evans since training camp began.

During a recent press conference, Evans downplayed his injuries, saying he would have been on the field had it been a game week:

“The training staff, they did a great job working with me. I know I’m an older player. I’ve had probably over a thousand practices, football practices in my life now, so I know what I’m doing out there. They know what they’re doing. They did a good job taking care of me. None of my injuries were significant. If it was a game week, I wouldn’t have missed any time.”

Evans sustained a groin injury during a preseason practice. He also failed to finish the joint practice against the Chargers, where he was seen with an ice wrap on his left quad.

Evans practicing early in the week will be what we look for all season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said, “he’s never practiced three days in a row,” so expect Evans to get plenty of veteran days off, much like Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams.