Mike Evans gave the 49ers exactly the kind of early spark they needed against the Cardinals, and then the afternoon took a hard turn.
After entering Week 3 already carrying a hip injury from Week 2 and listed as questionable, Evans showed up and made his presence felt right away in the home matchup. He helped San Francisco jump to a 14-0 lead by first pitching a lateral after a catch to Deebo Samuel, then hauling in another reception of his own.
Then, just before halftime, everything changed.
With less than two minutes left in the half, Evans was running a route when he suddenly showed clear discomfort without absorbing a hit. He appeared to be favoring the right side of his abdomen and struggling to take deep breaths. The 49ers’ medical staff tended to him, and he was eventually carted to the locker room.
The injury landed in the middle of a brutal stretch for San Francisco’s receiver group. Ricky Pearsall is already out for the year after knee surgery, while De’Zhaun Stribling and Demarcus Robinson are both working back from serious ankle injuries suffered over the first two weeks.
There was no immediate official prognosis on Evans, but physician Jeff Mueller quickly raised concern on Twitter/X after seeing the scene unfold.
“Mike Evans appears injured and is in a ton of pain. Almost looks like he can’t breathe. Just dropped down to a knee on the sideline and trying to catch his breath.
Hopefully not a lung or vital organ issue. pic.twitter.com/IYNprrCghD”
That kind of reaction naturally set off alarms for a fan base already on edge about injuries to key offensive players.
Shortly after halftime, ESPN’s Nick Wagoner reported that Evans had suffered a rib injury and would not return, a development that did little to calm the nerves around his status.
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