The San Francisco 49ers entered training camp worried about finding enough practice time for all their receivers. That problem appears to have solved itself.
Wide receiver Mike Evans missed Monday’s training camp practice because of a quad strain, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, adding another significant concern to a receiving corps that was considered San Francisco’s deepest position entering camp.
The 49ers have not announced the severity of Evans’ injury or established a timetable for his return. Even a relatively minor quad strain can linger or worsen if a player returns too quickly, making caution particularly important for a veteran receiver entering his 13th NFL season.
Evans was expected to give Kyle Shanahan something his offense has rarely featured: a traditional 6-foot-5 X receiver capable of winning contested catches and dominating in the red zone. His combination of size, catch radius and route-running ability offered a potential solution for an offense facing uncertainty elsewhere.
Instead, Evans joins a rapidly growing list of injured San Francisco pass catchers.
Ricky Pearsall has already been lost for the season after suffering a setback with his right knee PCL injury and will undergo surgery. Free-agent addition Christian Kirk has missed multiple practices with a calf strain, while promising rookie De’Zhaun Stribling remains day-to-day with hamstring tightness. The injuries became serious enough for San Francisco to reunite with Deebo Samuel on a one-year contract.
Tight end George Kittle is also on the active/PUP list with an Achilles issue.
The damage extends beyond the receiving corps. Running back Isaac Guerendo is recovering from a torn pectoral muscle, Jordan James is sidelined indefinitely with fractured ribs and rookie Kaelon Black missed Monday’s practice with an adductor injury.
Those absences prompted the 49ers to sign veteran running back Khalil Herbert.
Defensive end Mikail Kamara also suffered a torn ACL during Saturday’s practice and was waived with an injury designation.
In rare positive injury news for the Bay Area battered, defensive tackle C.J. West and defensive end Romello Height provided rare positive news by returning Monday.
San Francisco once appeared to have enough receiving depth to survive injuries elsewhere. Now, that supposed strength is becoming another source of uncertainty.
