The 49ers got a difficult look at Terry McLaurin’s night in Monday’s primetime game, and it brought an unexpected moment of respect from across the field.
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin was carted to the locker room after suffering an apparent knee injury on this play.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 20, 2026
Hope he's okay 🙏 pic.twitter.com/1XL4ezzQgi
McLaurin’s knee buckled in the second quarter, and he hit the turf in obvious pain after being covered by 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir. The cart eventually came out for him, and he later had a large air cast placed over his injured leg.
Even as the scene unfolded, 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans showed concern for McLaurin and took a moment to meet with him. Evans, along with two other 49ers, shook hands with McLaurin and wished him well.
Evans was dealing with injuries of his own, playing through both a ribs issue and an Achilles injury during the game. He still managed to haul in a 24-yard catch from Brock Purdy between two Washington defenders, but he also gave San Francisco a scare of his own.
Brock Purdy with a STRIKE to Mike Evans for a 24-yard gain for the 49ers 🎯 pic.twitter.com/9ETAuXg2iH
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 20, 2026
At one point, Evans headed into the tunnel and stretched out his Achilles while trainers attended to him. He later walked back to the locker room under his own power.
The veteran wideout, who won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, finished six yards short of a 100-yard performance. Purdy found him three times for 94 yards, though Evans did not score.
Meanwhile, the 49ers kept control of the game inside Levi’s Stadium. San Francisco opened up a 13-3 lead over Washington before Christian McCaffrey finished off a drive with 13 seconds left in the second quarter.
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49ers Just Sent An Encouraging Signal On Mike Evans
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For now, the receiver room is built around Evans, Brandin Cooks, Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins, with Kirk still waiting for a chance to return under his designation. The combination of the inactive status on one receiver and the extra depth additions suggests the 49ers are preparing for multiple contingencies, and Evans availability remains the headline the team is still trying to settle before game day. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Injury Worry Just Put More Pressure On Their Receiver Depth
The 49ers left Sundays win over Washington with more than a few bumps to monitor, and the wide receiver group is suddenly a little thinner than the depth chart would prefer. Mike Evans came out of the game with an Achilles issue after what Kyle Shanahan described as a flare-up of tendinitis, while Luke Gifford also dealt with a groin injury and Upton Stout exited with a shoulder problem.
For a team already trying to manage its receiving options, the timing matters. Shanahan sounded encouraged about Evans recovery, and theres at least a chance Christian Kirk could be in the mix for Week 7, but the receiver room still has to navigate the immediate fallout with Demarcus Robinson not expected back this week. That leaves the 49ers watching the medical reports closely as they head into another short-term roster puzzle. [Read more 🡒]