Mike Evans Ruled Out for 49ers vs Cardinals with Rib Injury
Quick Look
- San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans was ruled out of the Week 3 game against the Arizona Cardinals after suffering a rib injury in the second quarter.
- He had three receptions for 34 yards before leaving the field and will undergo further evaluation.
- The 49ers face multiple injuries this season, with several key receivers already on injured reserve.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Mike Evans joined the San Francisco 49ers this season after playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he won a Super Bowl and recorded 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, tied with Jerry Rice. The 49ers have multiple key players injured this season.
San Francisco 49ers star wide receiver Mike Evans was ruled out against the Arizona Cardinals after suffering a rib injury during the second quarter of the Week 3 matchup. After taking a big hit, he went down holding his rib area and was carted off the field.
According to the NFL Network, Evans is dealing with a rib strain and will have a full evaluation tomorrow.
Before going down, Evans had three receptions for 34 yards.
The six-time Pro Bowler led the team in receiving yards (103) heading into this game. With Evans out, wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Jordan Watkins will be seeing more action.
Evans was dealing with a hip injury this year and was questionable heading into this Week 3 game. He did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday due to the injury and was limited in practice on Friday.
The 49ers are already dealing with numerous significant injuries this season, with many key players on injured reserve. Wide receivers Christian Kirk, Ricky Pearsall, De'Zhaun Stribling and Demarcus Robinson are all on IR and Brandon Aiyuk's estrangement with the team still has not been resolved. The 49ers may need to make moves in terms of adding a pass catcher if Evans is out for a significant amount of time.
This marks the fourth 49ers player to be carted to the locker room this season.
This is Evans' first season with the Niners. The Buccaneers drafted him No. 7 overall, and he stayed through 2025, winning a Super Bowl during that span.
Evans' only season with less than 1,000 yards was in 2025 when he was limited to eight games due to a hamstring injury, concussion and broken clavicle. He is tied with Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons with 11.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Mike Evans will undergo a full evaluation tomorrow to determine the severity of his rib injury and expected return timeline.
Very likely · Within days
Wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Jordan Watkins will see increased playing time and targets in Evans' absence.
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- How long will Mike Evans be out due to the rib injury?
- Will the 49ers sign a replacement wide receiver if Evans is sidelined long-term?
- What is the severity of Brandon Aiyuk's situation with the team?
- How will the absence of Evans affect the 49ers' offensive performance?
