The 49ers’ trade deadline move brought more than just another veteran receiver into the building. It also revived an old storyline that had been lying around for years: whether Keenan Allen and Mike Evans could actually coexist after their social media dust-up from six years ago.
San Francisco sent a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts to land Allen, and the first thing plenty of people wanted to know was simple. Could Allen and Evans share a locker room without the old tension hanging over them?
That tension traces back to the 2020 NFL Top 100 rankings, when voters slotted Tyreek Hill at No. 22, Evans at No.
30, Chris Godwin at No. 38 and Allen at No. 77.
Allen pushed back online, saying none of those receivers were better than him at creating separation as a route runner. Evans answered quickly, telling Allen to “be realistic” because he wasn’t on his level.
On Wednesday, Allen made it clear the issue is long gone.
“We squashed it a long time ago,” Allen said. “Everybody wants to bring it back up, obviously.
But no, Mike's a hell of a player. He's probably better than me at this point.”
The bigger story for San Francisco is what both receivers still bring on the field. Allen arrived after eight games with Indianapolis this season, including Sunday’s 27-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, with 40 catches for 351 yards and one touchdown. Over 14 NFL seasons, he has compiled 1,095 receptions, 12,402 yards and 71 touchdowns.
Evans has been productive too, even while missing time. In six appearances for the 49ers this year, he has 27 catches for 420 yards and three touchdowns.
A right Achilles injury has kept him out since San Francisco’s 23-17 Week 6 win over the Washington Commanders. His career numbers are even more imposing: 893 catches, 13,472 yards and 111 touchdowns across 13 seasons.
"Oh yeah, we squashed it a long time ago. Everybody wants to bring it back up... He's probably better than me at this point."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 11, 2026
Keenan Allen reveals whether he and Mike Evans have put their beef behind them 😅
(via @grantcohn)
pic.twitter.com/63VNlSp3x5
For the 49ers, the old beef is now just background noise. The real focus is what happens when Evans gets back and San Francisco can roll out two accomplished pass-catchers who are more interested in winning than revisiting an old online spat.
In Other News...
49ers Trade Deadline Push For A Star Receiver Went Further Than Fans Knew
The 49ers were active behind the scenes as the trade deadline approached, and their search for help went beyond the usual rumor mill. According to ESPNs Rich Cimini, San Francisco checked in on Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson, a sign the team was at least exploring a major swing to bolster its passing game. New York never opened the door to real negotiations, but the inquiry fits the broader picture of a front office looking for impact talent if the right opportunity surfaced.
San Francisco also had its eye on Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack, another move that would have addressed a different need with a proven veteran. Los Angeles never made Mack available, leaving the 49ers to keep working through alternatives, including a possible pivot to Keenan Allen once those earlier avenues stalled. It is the kind of deadline posture that says plenty about the teams ambitions, even if the biggest names never got close to changing uniforms. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Receiver Move Reveals A Bigger Wrinkle In Their Injury Plan
The 49ers latest receiver addition did not come together overnight, and John Lynch said the path to Keenan Allen started with interest in another player before conversations shifted to Allen about two and a half weeks ago. For San Francisco, the move fits a familiar late-season pattern: patching together depth while trying to keep the offense functional, especially with the wide receiver room still dealing with a mix of players coming back and others staying out.
What makes the situation more delicate is the learning curve waiting for Allen once he gets in the building. Lynch and Kyle Shanahan both acknowledged how difficult it can be to absorb the 49ers playbook on the fly, so the team has already added extra meetings to help him get ready for upcoming games. It is the kind of adjustment San Francisco has had to make before, but this one comes with the added pressure of an injury picture that is still shifting around him. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Receiver Fix Comes With One Availability Question
Keenan Allens status has become one of the more delicate issues hanging over the 49ers as they sort through a receiver room that could use stability. The veteran wideout is facing two misdemeanor charges tied to an August arrest for operating a vehicle with a high alcohol concentration and while intoxicated, but for now the expectation is that he will remain available while the legal process plays out.
Kyle Shanahan said the team is essentially waiting on the NFL to decide how, or when, it wants to handle any discipline. A suspension could come this season, or the league could push the matter into the offseason, leaving the 49ers to plan with one eye on the field and another on a situation that still has no clear timetable. [Read more 🡒]