Deebo Samuel Sr. won’t be on the field for the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6. The wide receiver has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, leaving one of the team’s most versatile playmakers sidelined for tonight’s matchup against the Washington Commanders.
Kyle Shanahan had already hinted this absences would stretch beyond a one-week issue. Earlier in the month, the 49ers coach said Samuel was expected to miss "at least a couple of weeks" after he was hurt against the Seattle Seahawks.
Samuel’s absence takes a real chunk out of San Francisco’s offense. He has been productive as both a receiver and runner this season, hauling in 16 of 20 targets for 206 yards and three touchdowns while adding nine carries for 78 yards on the ground.
The 49ers are also dealing with a receiver room that’s already thin. The source material notes that the team is extremely banged up at receiver, with Mike Evans listed as questionable on Monday.
Even with Samuel unavailable, San Francisco enters the game as a heavy home favorite against a Washington team that has just one win in the 2026 season. That setup points the betting conversation toward the 49ers’ passing game.
The play being highlighted centers on Mike Evans, who has three touchdown catches in the 2026 season and turned in his best yardage output of the year in Week 5, when he caught seven passes for 113 yards and a score.
Evans has been especially dangerous near the goal line. He’s been one of the NFL’s most dependable red zone targets because of his size, converting six targets inside the opponent’s 20 into five catches and two touchdowns.
The quarterback matchup only strengthens the case. Brock Purdy has thrown multiple touchdown passes in every game this season and has 13 overall, while Washington’s defense is tied for the most passing touchdowns allowed in 2026 at 14. The Commanders also rank 23rd in the NFL in EPA/Pass.
It may not be the best price, but the expectation is that Evans will have chances to score again in Week 6.
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
In Other News...
49ers Survived A Scare Thanks To One Late Defensive Stand
A tense Monday night in Washington nearly turned into a costly slip for the 49ers, who had to sweat through a second-half surge before escaping with their unbeaten record intact. Malik Mustapha came up with the kind of defensive play that can define a close game, helping San Francisco fend off a Commanders comeback after Washington had already lost top receiver Terry McLaurin to a knee injury.
The 49ers still left the field with a 6-0 start, but the night was not clean. An apparent Achilles injury to wide receiver Mike Evans added another layer of concern to a win that required late-game poise and a key stop when Washington seemed to be closing in on the end zone. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Just Sent An Encouraging Signal On Mike Evans
The 49ers Week 6 roster moves offered a small but notable glimpse into how theyre managing the wide receiver picture, with Christian Kirk staying on injured reserve and Mike Evans still listed as questionable. San Francisco also added some immediate depth by elevating wideout Malik Turner and linebacker Jalen Graham from the practice squad, a move that gives the offense a little more insurance while the injury situation sorts itself out.
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 Primetime Scare Put Focus On Two Receivers For Very Different Reasons
Monday night put two receivers in the spotlight for very different reasons, and neither moment had much to do with the stat sheet. Terry McLaurin was being covered one-on-one by 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir when a knee injury stopped him in his tracks, turning a routine play into a grim scene that required a medical cart and an air cast.
On the other sideline, Mike Evans was still working through his own issues while catching passes from Brock Purdy, and he also showed a little class in the aftermath by shaking hands with McLaurin. Evans later exited briefly with an Achilles issue before making it back to the locker room under his own power, a reminder that even in a primetime game, health concerns can linger long after the next snap. [Read more 🡒]