SANTA CLARA -- Day 13 of 49ers camp had a little bit of everything: a receiver finally taking over, a quarterback carving up the defense, and a couple of corners making life far too easy for the offense.
Mike Evans was the biggest winner of the day, and it wasn’t close. After missing about a week with a quad strain, he looked fully healthy and played like it.
Evans drew two defensive holding penalties on Renardo Green, one on a deep route and another in the end zone, then later beat Green on a deep crossing route for a 30-yard gain. He wasn’t done there.
Evans also got the better of Deommodore Lenoir on a back-shoulder fade in 1-on-1s and a curl route in 11-on-11s. The 49ers need that version of Evans, and they need it consistently.
He also keeps building chemistry with Brock Purdy.
The other receiver who stood out with the starters was Ricky Pearsall, who had his first dominant day of camp after being moved back to the second-string offense on Saturday. Pearsall’s best play came on a 15-yard catch over the middle after he beat Lenoir on a dig route.
He still isn’t creating much separation against man coverage, but he’s excellent at making contested catches, and he’s fearless running full speed across the field. It looks like he’s being lined up to start this season, especially since he isn’t playing special teams.
That’s a different path than Deebo Samuel, who handles punt returns and kick returns and, when he’s with the starters, is mostly functioning as a running back.
Purdy kept rolling, too. He continued what has clearly been the best camp of his career.
The mistakes that used to show up every day are gone. In their place is a quarterback who is dealing.
He hit Jordan Watkins on a no-look downfield throw after freezing Jaden Dugger with his eyes, then later connected with Jacob Cowing on a 30-yard deep ball. Purdy has been picking apart the 49ers’ starting defense while mostly throwing to backups, which is good news for him and not exactly great news for Raheem Morris’s defense.
Purdy also found Tonges, who led all starters with three catches. Tonges may not be the flashiest target on the roster, but in camp he’s been the most dependable.
Purdy trusts him because he gets open and finishes plays when the ball comes his way. Right now, he looks like Purdy’s go-to option.
Mac Jones had his moments, too. He completed a 40-yard deep pass to Deebo Samuel, who beat Jack Jones, and he also threw two sharp touchdown passes with anticipation in the red zone.
Jones hasn’t had a particularly memorable camp, but this week matters for him because he most likely will start and play a lot this Thursday night against the Chargers. He needs to prove last season wasn’t a fluke and that he’s a starting-caliber quarterback, not just another backup like Trey Lance, the Chargers’ backup who will start against the 49ers on Thursday.
No pressure, Mac.
Elsewhere, Curtis Robinson made the most athletic play of the day from centerfield, exploding toward the sideline and leaping to nearly intercept a deep Purdy throw intended for Jacob Cowing. It would have been better if he had come down with it, but he’s the only safety on the roster fast enough to even get to that ball from that spot. He has a real chance to become a quality starter.
On the injury front, Nick Bosa was on a side field with trainers, which at least suggests his knee tendinitis is real and improving. The guess here is that he’ll be ready for Week 1 in Australia against the Rams, but that same issue is probably going to linger all season and beyond.
Christian McCaffrey also did not practice and has not suited up in more than a week. His “tightness” sounds like something more serious, possibly tendinitis.
The expectation is that he’ll play in the season opener, but probably not at full strength.
There were more health concerns along the line as well. Aaron Banks missed practice with a concussion he apparently suffered yesterday, and without him the 49ers had zero starting-caliber guards.
Spencer Burford started at left guard but struggled so badly that he was replaced by Connor Colby midway through practice, even though Colby has been rough himself. Burford couldn’t anchor against a strong bullrush from a defensive tackle, which may have something to do with the fact that he played offensive tackle in college.
Ben Bartch left practice early with what looked like a head injury. And Jake Brendel missed practice with an ankle injury.
On defense, the cornerback battle did not look especially tidy. Renardo Green was flagged twice for holding Mike Evans, once on a deep pass and once in the end zone.
After the second one, Green walked over to the volunteer official who threw the flag and argued the call. He probably should have just stopped holding receivers.
Right now, he’s playing himself out of the starting lineup.
Isaiah Oliver was even rougher. He’s worse than Green, since he’ll gamble for an interception and occasionally get one, but he also gives up big plays.
Today, Deebo Samuel beat him deep, which is hard to do in 2026. Green and Oliver are both fighting for a starting job, and both are losing.
Prysock, meanwhile, keeps doing the quiet things right. He played only with the third-stringers, which is frustrating because he doesn’t commit penalties or give up chunk plays the way Green and Jack Jones do.
He should be starting opposite Lenoir, and the 49ers seem likely to figure that out eventually.
In Other News...
Nick Bosa Just Gave 49ers Fans A Reason To Exhale
Nick Bosas recovery is starting to look a little more encouraging for the 49ers, who have spent plenty of time trying to keep key players on the field after a run of injury troubles. The star pass rusher has been back in practice drills, a notable step after the ACL tear that sidelined him for much of last season and kept him out of the preseason opener.
The biggest sign of progress is the absence of the support sleeve on his right knee, a small detail that can carry outsized meaning this time of year. San Francisco still has every reason to be cautious with one of its most important players, but Bosa working his way back into drills gives the team and its fans something tangible to watch as the regular season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Purdy Is Sending A Clear Message About Deebo Samuel
Deebo Samuel is back in the building for the 49ers after spending a year with Washington, and Brock Purdy is making it clear the receiver still matters to this offense. Samuel returned on a one-year, $7 million deal during training camp, and Purdy has been vocal this preseason about the kind of value Samuel brings when he is moving around the formation and turning routine touches into something bigger.
For San Francisco, the timing matters. The 49ers are now carrying the oldest average roster in the league, and any questions about Samuels age-30 season only add to the scrutiny around a group trying to stay productive and fresh. Purdys message has been consistent, though, and it points to a familiar hope in Santa Clara: if Samuel is right, the offense gets another layer it can use right away. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Shanahans Return Raises A 49ers Question That Isnt Going Away
Kyle Shanahan was back on the 49ers sideline for the preseason opener after spending the start of camp working his way back from injuries sustained in a July 14 car accident. The return itself mattered for a team trying to settle into August, but it also underscored how unusual his summer has been. Shanahan dealt with multiple fractures and a concussion, limiting what he could do throughout training camp while the rest of the staff kept the operation moving.
Klay Kubiak handled the play-calling duties in the preseason, keeping the offense on schedule while Shanahan eased back into his usual role. The setup leaves a familiar question hanging over San Francisco as the regular season approaches: how smoothly the transition back to Shanahan's full-time control will go once games start to count. For a coach who is such a central piece of the 49ers' identity, even a temporary shuffle has a way of drawing attention. [Read more 🡒]