The 49ers got a mixed injury report on Monday as they turn the page toward a Week 10 meeting with the Dallas Cowboys.
Deebo Samuel is trending toward a return, with Kyle Shanahan saying the team is planning for him to practice Wednesday. That’s the kind of update that usually points toward a player being available on Sunday, as long as nothing changes during the week. Samuel has missed the last three games because of a hamstring injury.
Mike Evans, on the other hand, is in a tougher spot. Shanahan said he is not expected to practice this week, which would put him on track to miss a third straight game. Evans has been sidelined the last two contests with Achilles tendonitis.
The 49ers have been cautious with both receivers, and John Lynch explained the thinking last Thursday on KNBR. He said Evans’ absence is more precautionary so the receiver can stay healthy when he does come back. San Francisco doesn’t want to rush him back and risk making the injury worse, especially with the 7-1 49ers fully expecting to make the playoffs.
Even with the missed time, Evans still leads the team in receiving. In his first season with San Francisco, he has 27 catches for 420 yards and three touchdowns. Samuel has also been productive when available, putting up 206 yards and three touchdowns on 16 receptions before the hamstring injury.
With both veterans out last Sunday, second-year receiver Jordan Watkins stepped into the spotlight and led the 49ers with 86 yards and a touchdown on four catches.
In Other News...
49ers-Raiders Win Turned Into A Disturbing Levi's Stadium Security Story
The 49ers 38-17 win over the Raiders at Levis Stadium should have been remembered as a cleanly handled preseason result and another step in the Bay Area rivalry. Instead, the postgame conversation quickly shifted away from the scoreboard and toward what was happening in the stands and around the venue, where multiple fan fights broke out and turned an otherwise routine night into something far more troubling.
Security and police were left dealing with a wave of disorder that stretched beyond the field, with incidents serious enough to draw video attention and prompt a broader response from authorities. The investigation is ongoing, and officials are asking witnesses to come forward as they try to piece together how a game that was supposed to be about football became a disturbing scene outside the stadium. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Face One More Trade Deadline Decision At Wide Receiver
With the trade deadline approaching, the 49ers are still weighing whether to make one more move to steady a receiver group that has been hit hard by injuries. The front office has already shown a willingness to keep looking for help, and the latest possibility centers on a receiver who could fit both the immediate need and the long-term roster picture.
Indianapolis has reportedly already received at least a fourth-round offer for the player in question, which puts San Francisco in a position to decide how aggressive it wants to be. The appeal is clear: a young receiver on a rookie deal who has asked for a trade, but the 49ers still have to determine whether meeting the market is worth the cost as the deadline closes in. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Just Sent A Clear Message To The Rest Of The NFC West
The 49ers took care of business against the Raiders and, in the process, widened the gap at the top of the NFC West. It was the kind of all-around win that tends to travel well in a division race, especially with San Francisco showing it can control a game on the ground and keep its footing while the rest of the division tries to find some consistency.
The Rams got a lift from Myles Garrett in their win over Washington, while Seattle is still fighting through offensive issues and injuries that have slowed its momentum. Arizona, meanwhile, took a step back in a low-scoring loss with Gardner Minshew under center, which only adds to the sense that the 49ers are separating themselves from the pack at the right time. [Read more 🡒]