One of the clearest takeaways from the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 1 win over the Los Angeles Rams was Mike Evans’ debut. The bigger tease, though, is that the 33-year-old barely got a full workload and still looked like he had plenty left in the tank.
The 49ers seemed content to use Evans as the engine early, then stash him once the game tilted their way. He helped them race out to a fast start, then spent most of the second half on the sideline while San Francisco protected the lead.
Evans opened with three catches for 22 yards. By halftime, he had five grabs for 47 yards. He then added a two-yard touchdown catch to finish off the 49ers’ first drive of the second half, and that ended up being his final stat line for the day.
Mike Evans showing he's still got it in year 13 🙌@insidethenfl Week 1 Mic’ Up on X pic.twitter.com/ieCc3IRntv
Brock Purdy only threw four passes after that point. A few went to Deebo Samuel, including a touchdown, and then the 49ers leaned on the run game to close it out.
That usage tells the story. When San Francisco needs a drive, Evans looks like the first option.
When the 49ers are ahead by multiple scores, they’re clearly comfortable conserving the veteran. That could lead to some huge outings for him later on, but it also suggests the ceiling may be lower when San Francisco is a heavy favorite.
There’s another wrinkle here, too: De’Zhaun Stribling is expected to miss at least the next four games. The rookie had been leading the team in snaps and routes run before going down with an injury.
If Stribling had stayed healthy and kept climbing, he would have eventually started eating into the work Evans was getting. Instead, the go-to moments in the opener made it obvious the 49ers trust Evans more than Samuel or Demarcus Robinson, who ranked third and fourth behind Stribling in the season opener.
Evans is now in his 13th NFL season. He’s topped 1,000 yards in 11 of his first 12 years, and injuries slowed him down last season. If he stays healthy, the 1,000-yard mark should be a lock for the veteran in 2026.
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