The 49ers are heading toward Sunday’s matchup with the Raiders still sorting through a crowded injury report at wide receiver, and John Lynch said Thursday that the picture is improving in some spots while staying murky in others.
Speaking on KNBR, the San Francisco general manager said Mike Evans is probably not going to play, though he stopped short of officially shutting the door. The concern, Lynch explained, is keeping Evans’ tendonitis from becoming a longer-term problem.
“I don’t know if I’d rule that out. That’s probably likely that he won’t be out there Sunday," Lynch said about Evans.
"What we’re really trying to do there, he’s got that tendonitis that flared up, and I think you learn from the history. Christian [McCaffrey] had this situation, and every player is different, every situation is different, but you don’t want it to become something that really lingers.
So we’re trying to knock it out such that when he comes back, we give him the best chance to stay back.”
Deebo Samuel is in a similar spot. Lynch didn’t formally rule him out either, but he said it’s likely Samuel won’t suit up after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury.
There was better news elsewhere in the receiver room. Demarcus Robinson and KhaDarel Hodge are both expected to play, Lynch said.
Robinson has been working back from an ankle issue that sent him to injured reserve, and after being activated Wednesday, he’s already on track to be available Sunday. Hodge, meanwhile, was just added to the practice squad Monday in the middle of the team’s injury crunch.
He had already appeared in three games for San Francisco this season before being released on Oct. 1 and then brought back.
The 49ers still have more receiver issues to manage. Christian Kirk was limited in Wednesday’s practice because of a knee injury, and he has only played once this season after opening the year with an ankle injury. Ricky Pearsall and De’Zhaun Stribling are still on injured reserve.
In Other News...
Brock Purdy Gets Real About A Brandon Aiyuk Reunion
Brock Purdy isnt carrying any hard feelings into the possibility of seeing Brandon Aiyuk again. The 49ers quarterback made it clear he still holds nothing but love and respect for the wideout, even after a long stretch apart, a sign that whatever has happened behind the scenes hasnt changed the personal side of the relationship.
Aiyuks situation remains one of the more interesting loose ends around San Francisco as the team moves forward. His future with the 49ers is still uncertain, but if he does show up around the facility, Purdys message suggests the door to a reunion would open with warmth rather than awkwardness. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Aiyuk Situation Just Got Much Messier For The 49ers
Brandon Aiyuks next steps with the 49ers have become a lot more complicated as the sides sort through a contract issue that goes beyond the usual trade or release conversation. His agent said there are plans to meet with the team, but the situation now has the NFL Management Council and NFL Players Association involved as the two sides work through how his contract and roster status should be handled.
What makes this especially messy is that the process could still end in agreement or move to arbitration, leaving Aiyuks future in San Francisco unresolved for now. For a 49ers team that has already had to navigate plenty of offseason noise, the uncertainty around one of its most prominent players adds another layer to a situation that is clearly not close to being settled. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Face Two Raiders Threats That Could Ruin A Post-Bye Reset
The 49ers come out of the bye with a clear defensive emphasis, and the timing is right after a stretch in which San Francisco has been looking for more consistency on that side of the ball. Adding DeForest Buckner would fit that broader push for sturdier play up front, especially with the next opponent offering a mix of problems that can make a reset feel a lot less comfortable than it sounds.
Las Vegas has been shaky enough defensively to invite confidence, but the Raiders also have a knack for creating turnovers, which can flip a game fast if San Francisco gets loose with the ball. On the other side, the passing game has found enough rhythm to matter, with Kirk Cousins and Brock Bowers giving the Raiders a couple of routes to stress a defense that wants the bye week to show up on the field immediately. [Read more 🡒]