The 49ers are heading into Week 7 with a familiar kind of problem: who can actually hold up when the injury list starts thinning the offense out?
Mike Evans is the headline here. The veteran pass catcher is dealing with several bumps and bruises, and the latest issue - Achilles tendinitis - kept him out of San Francisco’s most recent game against the Washington Commanders. Now the 49ers have to sort out when he comes back, and that decision could open the door for a young receiver who desperately needs it.
That receiver is Jordan Watkins.
The second-year wideout is expected to see more opportunities in the coming weeks, especially with San Francisco set to face the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday before heading into its bye. Even after the break, there’s a real chance Evans misses another week or two, which could leave the 49ers leaning on untested options for longer than planned.
Watkins needs those snaps, because the resume so far has done him no favors. After a year and a half, he still hasn’t done much to show he can be a reliable NFL contributor. Since the start of 2025, he has caught only five passes, and much of his time with the team has been spent on the practice squad.
His draft status does him no favors either. As a day-three pick, Watkins doesn’t come with much capital or patience attached, which means the clock is already ticking on his chance to carve out a real role.
If Evans misses one or more games, Brandin Cooks would be the only receiver ahead of Watkins on the depth chart. That would leave Brock Purdy needing to lean on Watkins as a genuine part of the passing game.
But Week 6 did not exactly push the conversation in his favor. Watkins played 47 snaps, the most of any San Francisco receiver, yet he came away with just one catch. When Evans left the field, the offense as a whole stalled.
That’s the tension now. The opportunity is there, but it may not last long.
If Watkins keeps coming up empty, the 49ers could look outside the building and bring in help through a trade. That would likely push him further down the depth chart and make his path back to meaningful snaps even steeper.
And the reinforcements are coming. Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, and Demarcus Robinson are expected back within a few weeks, while De'Zhaun Stribling is expected to return later in the season. Once Purdy has that group back together, Watkins may find it hard to work his way back onto the field at all.
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49ers Suddenly Have Real Freedom To Go All In
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