Mike Evans

Which 49ers player will be the biggest standout during training camp?

We are a few days away from the San Francisco 49ers’ entire team reporting to training camp. We’ll see how often Kyle Shanahan gives veterans like Trent Williams and Christian McCaffrey days off. We know players like Nick Bosa , George Kittle , and Mykel Williams are recovering from season-ending injuries. That opens the door for some other players on the roster to make a name for themselves and catch the eyes of the coaching staff. That’s especially true for the new faces on the roster. And there are plenty of those who will look to take advantage of potential openings. Whether that’s Christian Kirk at wide receiver, Robert Jones or Brett Toth at guard, Nate Hobbs in the secondary, or one of the undrafted free agent rookies added on defense, we can expect somebody to stand out. Last season, that was Demarcus Robinson . He was unguardable during training camp. You would have thought he was Brandon Aiyuk the way he was being talked about last August. Unfortunately, that summer success never came to fruition during the season. So, who will be the summer standout this year? My answer: Jacob Cowing In these practice settings, it tends to be the wide receiver, much like Robinson a year ago. I’ll go with the player who I think can carry over a strong training camp into the regular season. There will be veteran days off for Mike Evans during training camp and the preseason. That’ll open the door for other wideouts. So I’m going with Jacob Cowing, a guy who adds a speed dimension that the 49ers did not have a season ago. Ricky Pearsall tested extraordinarily well, but, to the eye test, Cowing plays faster than Pearsall. Cowing will be lined up in the slot and off the ball in advantageous matchups against a secondary that does not run well, at least compared to Cowing. Usage matters. Cowing will likely run deep crossing routes or routes with vertical stems. He may have a screen or two mixed in with an underneath route, but he’s a vertical threat. That’ll lead to big plays, splash plays, and “oohs and ahhs” from the crowd. That’ll show in preseason games, as will Cowing’s ability as a returner. He should get enough opportunities returning punts and kicks. It’s another area where Cowing can show off his speed and prove to the coaching staff that he can make an impact

Adam Schefter provides 3 ‘unresolved issues’ for the 49ers ahead of training camp

ESPN’s Adam Schefter had training camp notes for every NFL team on his podcast. In the NFC West portion, Schefter spoke about the hurdles Aaron Donald and the Los Angeles Rams still have to clear — Donald is still owed $40 million from his current deal. According to Schefter, the 49ers still have “a lot of unresolved issues.” Here’s what he had to say: We still need to see if Brandon Aiyuk is going to apply for reinstatement. George Kittle is coming back from injury. He feels like he’s going to be ready for that season opener in Australia against the Rams, but the 49ers may be very careful. And let’s see if he can make it back. I don’t think it’s a given just yet. They have a new defensive coordinator in Raheem Morris, who will be the fifth different defensive coordinator in the last 5 years. Now, they love Raheem Morris. They’ve wanted him to do that job for a while. I think Kyle Shanahan is very happy to have him back there. But it’s another new defensive coordinator, as they try to work in some of their players coming back from knee injuries — like their former No.1 draft pick, Mykel Williams . A lot of players trying to bounce back. They do have Mike Evans , and that’ll be a big boost for the offense. For as active as Aiyuk has been on social media, he still must apply for reinstatement . A week ago, Schefter said he believed Aiyuk had scared teams off . He’s not getting traded anymore after his antics. Aiyuk won’t get the opportunity to play for another team until he files the paperwork to be reinstated. He’ll remain on the left squad list until that happens. Kittle should take all the time he needs. As impressive as it is to see him deadlift 660 pounds , those deadlift/squatting movements don’t have as much impact on the Achilles as you’d think, as there is no directional change in an explosive manner happening. Kittle said during OTAs he had a target date that would be 21 weeks out on June 23. Week 1 feels like a long shot. Speculating on Kittle’s return will drive you up a wall. As for having stability at defensive coordinator, it’s the first time there’s a former defensive back in the fold. I’ll be interested to see how Morris impacts the play of the secondary, and if we see more changes throughout the season if the results don’t follow

Is age really that much of a concern for the 49ers?

We’ve been going all over this for the last few months: the 49ers are getting older. And while we discuss it in the comments, everyone else mentions that they are getting too old and beat up. Is that much of an issue? It will be in a year or two if these last couple of draft picks don’t work out. I’ve been harping about finding a replacement for Trent Williams , even though that’s not exactly the way things work in the NFL. Can it be done currently? Well, if the last two seasons are any indication, yeah, maybe. In both seasons, the 49ers were inundated with injuries, and how they won the wild card game against the Philadelphia Eagles last season is still something I’m trying to figure out (oh, but its awesomeness can’t be argued). Albert Breer mentioned the age as something interesting to watch in his latest column on SI.com . The 49ers’ age is notable, and makes them as all in as their NFC West rivals in Los Angeles . Trent Williams is 38, Kyle Juszczyk is 35, George Kittle and Mike Evans are 32, Christian McCaffrey is 30, Fred Warner is 29 and Nick Bosa is 28. Can all those guys stay healthy? Do the Niners have a big swing left in them before the trade deadline to give them their best shot? It’s an interesting circumstance. Do older players get injured? Sure. But that’s really the main thing: if they don’t get injured (and that might happen), then I don’t think anyone will care about how old the roster is. If they make another NFC Championship this season, age really wasn’t an issue, and this season was a success. But going into the season? Same applies. I don’t really care how old the roster is as long as they are winning. The injury concerns are real, but it’s not like only the old players got sidelined last year and the year before that. At the end of the day, it’s a question of whether the age of the 49ers is really that much of an issue or just a talking point for everyone talking about the 49ers. Only time will tell, I suppose. Are you that concerned about their age, or is that just a number at this point?

49ers’ rookie De’Zhaun Stribling is getting more respect by the week

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: The 49ers made a polarizing draft pick. Well, in the case of their most recent one, 2026’s De’Zhaun Stribling, the pick itself seemed to be an absolute mixed bag when it comes to fans’ reactions. Most called it a reach—at best. And then he came to OTAs, and after everyone was done blasting the pick, reports came that he may have been off the board a couple picks later anyway . Now we have comparisons of Stribling to the likes of Chris Godwin Jr., and that an NFL team had him ranked higher than Philadelphia Eagles first-round pick Makai Lemon . Stribling’s stock continues to rise, and he hasn’t even played a snap yet. Add him as a sleeper to a rookie offensive player of the year list—a list from CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani who gave four sleepers to consider . Stribling is known for his blocking ability and physicality, but he also ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at the combine at 6-foot-2. He caught 55 passes for 811 yards last season for the Ole Miss Rebels and led the team with six receiving touchdowns. He also caught seven passes for 122 yards in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal upset against Georgia. Surely he can find a role in this efficient San Francisco 49ers offensive attack — and should have the opportunity, too. Really, his blocking ability and speed are enough for me and scream Kyle Shanahan offense. Like many, I wondered what the hell the 49ers were doing when his name was called. After I did a bit of research on someone I knew nothing about , I walked away saying this might end up being a steal. Kyle Shanahan is not one to throw his rookies into the fire unless absolutely necessary (and they are absolutely ready). Dajani makes a good point about injuries and the presence of Mike Evans at wide receiver. I wouldn’t be surprised if Evans is at least out for a good portion of a game or two during the season—which would open the door for Stribling. Plus, we don’t know who will fill the Kendrick Bourne/Jauan Jennings role this year, with both out of the mix. If Stribling is that guy, he’d be the highest pick spent on the role for Shanahan. It’s funny how on draft day many of us (myself included) were wondering what the 49ers were doing, but now, I, for one, am excited to see what this guy does in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. He could be the sleeper pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year. I just hope if he does win it, it’s by ability and production, not because of injuries and attrition

Baker Mayfield Could Have New Contract Before Week 1

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated thinks that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Baker Mayfield will reach a contract extension before Week 1 of the regular season in early September. Mayfield said in June that the two sides weren't close to a new deal and that he didn't want to negotiate after training camp started this summer. The Buccaneers made an official offer back in June, and the reality is that Mayfield's camp wasn't pleased with the offer and hasn't made a counteroffer yet. There hasn't been much progress since, but Breer reports that Tampa is "prepared to dive in on negotiations this week," with the first day of practice set for next Wednesday. The 31-year-old is due to make $40 million in 2026, the final year of a three-year, $100 million contract. Something in the range of $165 million over another three years for Mayfield makes the most sense. For fantasy purposes, the two-time Pro Bowler failed to reach the 4,000-yard passing mark for the third straight year in 2025 while battling through injuries. Better health should help him in 2026, but in a new offense without future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans, a bounce-back isn't guaranteed. Fantasy managers should treat Mayfield as more of a low-end QB2 in superflex formats for 2026

49ers stars vouch for return of former WR in free agency

The San Francisco 49ers made a couple of moves at wide receiver this offseason, signing Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in free agency, while drafting De’Zhaun Stribling with their first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft at No. 33 overall. Those three additions provide much-needed depth and talent at wide receiver, where the 49ers struggled in 2025. Without Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, the 49ers didn’t have a wideout top 650 receiving yards, as injuries and struggles on the field led the way. Evans gives the 49ers a proven No. 1 wide receiver who can win on the outside, although he comes with his own risks after the most injury-laden season of his career in 2025. He’ll be 33 this season, but has been highly productive when healthy and should be a good red-zone weapon. Kirk dealt with injuries as well in 2025, but is another proven weapon who can operate out of the slot and give the 49ers good depth alongside Evans and Ricky Pearsall . Stribling’s role as a rookie is unclear, but he worked well after the catch in college and gives the 49ers a big, fast receiver at 225 pounds. Still, could the 49ers add one more weapon to the room? Former 49ers star Deebo Samuel remains a free agent this offseason after his deal with the Washington Commanders expired, and he’s searching for a new home. Samuel, 30, caught 72 passes for 727 yards and five touchdowns with the Commanders in 2025, while playing in 16 games. He didn’t see much usage as a runner, getting only 17 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown. Samuel’s average depth of target was quite low once again at 5.2 yards per target, but he did have some big games for the Commanders, especially early in the season. Could he be another player that returns to the 49ers on a one-year deal? Some of his former teammates vouched for a potential return this weekend. On one of Samuel’s recent Instagram posts, both George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk commented, welcoming the wideout back to the Bay Area should he choose to return. “I have a guest house with your name on it,” Juszczyk wrote, with Kittle writing a similar remark: ‘I also have a guest house labeled ‘Deebo’s second home.’” Now, the 49ers have mentioned the desire to get younger and cheaper, but they’ve also added several veterans this offseason, including Evans, Kirk, linebacker Dre Greenlaw , and others, as they look to maximize their current championship window. Samuel could be another low-cost, one-year option that gives the 49ers more depth and reliability at wide receiver with a familiar face. The wideout should find a new home, should he choose, before the season starts, and there are many better situations for more playing time, including with the Commanders, who don’t have any proven options behind Terry McLaurin . But there are also options available back home

Ricky Pearsall workout video raises health questions close to 49ers camp

In what’s supposed to be a make-or-break year for 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall , there is already some cause for concern for the third-year wide receiver. Pearsall, who has struggled with injuries in the early stages of his NFL career, released a workout video of himself on his Instagram Story. In the video, he was seen wearing a knee brace on his right knee. Last year, Pearsall appeared in only nine games for the 49ers due to a PCL injury in his right knee. In an interview last season, Pearsall revealed his knee wouldn’t heal until he had time to fully rest it, hinting that it would feel better after the offseason. Despite wearing the knee brace in the video, Pearsall was seen working out in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and the video revealed him looking explosive in and out of his routes. He also made hard plants on the knee that was injured last year. Through his first two NFL seasons, Pearsall appeared in 20 games. He missed time during his first season due to being shot in the chest. Aside from dealing with the bad knee, he’s also dealt with hamstring injuries. When the 49ers drafted Pearsall with the No. 31 pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, he was coming off a career year at Florida, where he had 965 receiving yards and four touchdowns. In the 20 games he’s appeared, Pearsall has 928 yards, averaging 13.9 yards per catch, with three touchdown receptions. With training camp set to begin soon for the 49ers, they’re hoping Pearsall’s injuries are a thing of the past. He will likely fill in at the slot position with newly acquired Mike Evans lined up outside. California Post News : Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , X , YouTube , WhatsApp , LinkedIn California Post Sports Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , YouTube , X California Post Opinion California Post Newsletters : Sign up here! California Post App : Download here! Home delivery : Sign up here! Page Six Hollywood : Sign up here!

Which 49ers training camp battle are you looking forward to the most?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Niners fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. The San Francisco 49ers rookies are a couple of days away from reporting to training camp. We are 11 days away from an open practice for fans. So today’s survey question is: which training camp battle are you looking forward to the most? Mike Evans , Ricky Pearsall , and De’Zhaun Stribling figure to be the usual suspects on offense this season. But there could be games where Christian Kirk, Jordan Watkins , or Jacob Cowing have a few splash plays. Or, to take it a step further, solidify themselves as a genuine threat, even if only for a short stretch. WR4 can quickly turn into WR3 and somebody the offense relies on if any injury arises. So while one of these three might be in the shadows early on in the season, that could change by midseason. The position with the most unknowns is left guard. Connor Colby , Carver Willis, Brett Toth , and Robert Jones all have a realistic chance of winning the job. It won’t be easy for Willis as a rookie. Colby is a second-year pro who was played off the field last season. Jones has had one season as a starter since 2021 and is coming off a serious neck injury. Toth is undersized and probably better at center. No answer would be surprising, which is what makes this the most intriguing battle and probably the most important. There may not be much of a battle at all here. Then again, nobody expected Marques Sigle to be the Week 1 starter at safety last year. Raheem Morris watched a few OTA practices, and the 49ers went on to sign safety Ashtyn Davis . That was telling. Whether it’s a veteran who isn’t on the roster yet or an undrafted free agent like Larry Worth III , a backup will have an opportunity to push Malik Mustapha and Ji’Ayir Brown for playing time. Well, maybe not the former, but after last season, neither job should be safe. Far from a flashy position, but it’s been critical to this defense over the years. Nick Martin , Luke Gifford , and Jaden Dugger are likely the trio competing for the SAM linebacker spot. They’ll have more opportunities under Morris with how he likes to walk linebackers down to the line of scrimmage. Gifford has the experience, but he was a nightmare in coverage last year. Opposing offenses hunted him whenever he was on the field. The 49ers might want to see what they have in their third-round pick from a year ago, but Dugger’s length and versatility make him a better fit for the position— on paper, at least. Another position where it might be one player one week, and the other guy the following week. We’re fully expecting Bobby Turner and Kyle Shanahan to ride the hot hand behind Christian McCaffrey . 49ers fans are convinced Kaelon Black will have more yards from scrimmage and win the job. I lean toward Jordan James for his down-to-down ability as a runner, while acknowledging Black is the higher draft pick and likely to get the first opportunity. If McCaffrey is healthy, he’s unlikely to come off the field on passing downs. But you don’t want to run him into the ground. At this point, James might be a more natural runner, while Black is more of a change-of-pace back. McCaffrey won’t see the field during the preseason —he shouldn’t—which means James and Black will have ample opportunities to prove they can be trusted once the games actually count

Mike Macdonald: We worry about ourselves, not what rest of NFC West is doing

Repeating as Super Bowl champions is a tough task for any team, so the Seahawks would face a daunting path under any circumstances this season. Their circumstances are all the more daunting because of the makeup of their division. They had to go through the 49ers and the Rams in the playoffs last season and both teams have made moves to strengthen their rosters since they were eliminated in January. The 49ers added wideouts Mike Evans and Christian Kirk on offense, traded for defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa and brought back linebacker Dre Greenlaw. The Rams opened the offseason by acquiring cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, and then pulled off a blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett last month. They could also have defensive tackle Aaron Donald back from retirement, but Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said that he’s not spending much time thinking about what his team’s rivals are doing. “Yeah, I don’t care ,” Macdonald said, via Vic Tafur of TheAthletic.com. “Don’t care. If you start worrying about what everybody else is doing, it’s just mentally taxing. It’s so much easier if you don’t. Let’s just worry about the Seahawks and being the best version of ourselves and getting better every day.” The Seahawks will turn their attention toward the 49ers in Week 5, but their two games against the Rams don’t come until the final three weeks of the regular season so there will be plenty of other things for Macdonald to focus on before he settles on the club from Los Angeles

Mike Macdonald: We worry about ourselves, not what rest of NFC West is doing

Repeating as Super Bowl champions is a tough task for any team, so the Seahawks would face a daunting path under any circumstances this season. Their circumstances are all the more daunting because of the makeup of their division. They had to go through the 49ers and the Rams in the playoffs last season and both teams have made moves to strengthen their rosters since they were eliminated in January. The 49ers added wideouts Mike Evans and Christian Kirk on offense, traded for defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa and brought back linebacker Dre Greenlaw . The Rams opened the offseason by acquiring cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson , and then pulled off a blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett last month. They could also have defensive tackle Aaron Donald back from retirement, but Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said that he's not spending much time thinking about what his team's rivals are doing. “Yeah, I don’t care ,” Macdonald said, via Vic Tafur of TheAthletic.com. “Don’t care. If you start worrying about what everybody else is doing, it’s just mentally taxing. It’s so much easier if you don’t. Let’s just worry about the Seahawks and being the best version of ourselves and getting better every day.” The Seahawks will turn their attention toward the 49ers in Week 5, but their two games against the Rams don't come until the final three weeks of the regular season so there will be plenty of other things for Macdonald to focus on before he settles on the club from Los Angeles

Trade: Blake Corum, Xavier Legette, Mike Evans

Trade: Blake Corum, Xavier Legette, Mike Evans

Patel Dynasty League trade — Dance Monkey received: Blake Corum. unclebeej69420 received: Mike Evans, Xavier Legette, and 2027 2nd round pick (orig Dance Monkey)

2 surprise cut candidates for the 49ers ahead of training camp

With training camp approaching and the final cut-down date on August 30th, the San Francisco 49ers may make some surprising roster moves. Potential veterans on the chopping block include a consistent lineman and a 10-year wide receiver, as the team looks to integrate new free-agent signings and draft picks. A safety is also mentioned as a possible cut, depending on the development of younger players and potential offseason acquisitions

49ers News: 60 days until the season opener

Jerry Rice discusses the addition of Mike Evans and the 49ers' 2026 expectations, comparing Evans to R.C. Owens. Andrew Whitworth expresses doubt about the 49ers' offensive tackle drafting strategy. A trade proposal suggests the 49ers could acquire Alex Highsmith from the Steelers to pair with Nick Bosa

How Mike Evans addition will help 49ers in 2026 NFL season, per Jerry Rice

How Mike Evans addition will help 49ers in 2026 NFL season, per Jerry Rice originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area The 49ers made plenty of headlines this NFL offseason when they acquired star wide receiver Mike Evans to further strengthen their high-powered offense. Along with his proven skills on the football field, Evans brings plenty of other things to San Francisco , according to 49ers legend Jerry Rice . “With Mike Evans coming on board, what a great leader. I had the opportunity to meet him, and he’s just such a good individual, and he works hard. The players are going to get the chance to probably see a [future Pro Football] Hall of Fame [inductee], and he’s going to work his butt off every day,” Rice told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco at the 2026 American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe. Prior to coming to San Francisco, Evans spent the first 12 NFL seasons of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , where he was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and once won a Super Bowl championship in 2021. Evans also recorded at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first 11 seasons, breaking Rice’s own record for 1,000-yard seasons to start an NFL career. “I got to meet him in a commercial, then I would follow him because I think we both had seasons where we had over 1,000 yards for 11 of 13 times, or something like that,” Rice also said. “It was just unfortunate that he got hurt because he had a good chance of breaking my record. And if anybody was going to break my record, I would have loved him to do it.” On the football field, Evans is a dynamic weapon who fits right away in 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan ’s offense with quarterback Brock Purdy leading the charge. Rice explained how the 6-foot-5, 231-pound wide receiver can be a threat to opposing teams, especially in red-zone situations. “Throw it up because he has that big frame,” Rice detailed. “He’s going to be able to go up and attack the football, so once you’re in the end zone, just throw that thing up like an alley-oop back in the day. Just throw it up and let him go get it, and he’s capable of doing it.” Especially for young wide receivers such as rookie De’Zhaun Stribling , whom San Francisco selected 33rd overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, Evans also brings his leadership to the 49ers and can help mentor the team’s next generation. “[Stribling] can follow the greatness of Mike Evans because he’s going to see how this guy works every day, and since [Evans] has been in the league for a long time, [Stribling] has the perfect example with Mike Evans,” Rice added. Despite turning 33 years old before the start of the 2026 NFL season, Evans brings plenty of things to the table that can help push the 49ers over the hump and contend for another Super Bowl title. As long as San Francisco remains healthy throughout the upcoming season, the team certainly has a solid chance of achieving its ultimate goal. Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast

In Need of an Encore | Second-Year Players to BUY Before Camp

Development is essential for NFL players to reach their full potential. For example, the tight end position is often cited as one that takes time to develop. Not long ago, the third year for wide receivers was seen as a potential “breakthrough” year. With that individual development in mind, I’ve identified several second-year players in camp you should be targeting who can boost your fantasy squads this Fall, starting with WR1 in Tampa Bay. Emeka Egbuka is already a top-20 dynasty wide receiver, but I anticipate he’ll make a jump in Year 2. Egbuka started his rookie season scorching hot, finishing as a top-12 fantasy receiver three times over the first five weeks. A hamstring strain in Week 6 threw cold water on his hot start, and Egbuka had only one top-12 finish as a receiver for the rest of the season. Egbuka somehow finished with the second-highest fantasy points per route run (0.38) on the team — despite playing at less than 100 percent. This season, the Bucs will be without veteran receiver Mike Evans (SF) and have added third-round rookie Ted Hurst . Chris Godwin will get his share, but how long can he stay on the field? Zac Robinson has HIGH praise for Emeka Egbuka 🚀 pic.twitter.com/lHtocGz64O — Fantasy Life (@MBFantasyLife) June 28, 2026 New offensive coordinator Zak Robinson (ATL) has compared Egbuka to Cooper Kupp , whom Robinson coached during Kupp’s historic 2021 season, when he won the receiving Triple Crown. Egbuka has always been stuck with outstanding pass catchers such as Jeremiah Smith and Jaxon Smith-Njigba at Ohio State, and then Evans. Now he’s the top option on his team and has a real chance to be a league-winner. Of all the second-year players in the NFL, Ashton Jeanty may be the player I’m most excited to see on the field again. Billed as a “Pro-Bowl talent” by NFL analyst Lance Zierlein, Jeanty was a can’t-miss prospect who had a tumultuous first season. In Jeanty’s defense, many factors were going against his success as a rookie. The Raiders’ 2025 season was forgettable, with a coaching staff that had already retired mentally and an offensive line that finished dead last in Run-Block Win Rate at 62%. Despite the circumstances, Jeanty still finished as a high-end RB2, averaging 14 FPPG. He now has a new head coach in Klint Kubiak, one of the rising offensive minds in the NFL. More importantly, the Raiders also bolstered the offensive line by adding All-Pro Tyler Linderbaum (BAL). If Jeanty was able to produce average numbers in a dysfunctional offense, he should be capable of producing above-average numbers in a functional one. Cam Skattebo had an eerily similar first year to Egbuka’s, with a strong start until an injury derailed everything. Unfortunately for Skattebo, his injury was much more serious. A broken tibia with a right ankle dislocation shelved him from Week 9 through the remainder of the season. New head coach John Harbaugh (BAL) has committed to a physical run game, and further strengthened that commitment by drafting Francis Mauigoa in the first round of the draft. Fullback Patrick Ricard , who specializes in run blocking efficiency, has also arrived in New York with Harbaugh. The Jaxson Dart distraction worked! Cam Skattebo ‘s best run of his career so far! pic.twitter.com/PcRu6sRKsa — Talkin’ Giants (@TalkinGiants) September 14, 2025 Skattebo only has Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary to worry about stealing carries, which should be a non-issue. All signs point to the Arizona St. alum having a strong season; the only doubt is whether he will be fully healed from that devastating injury in 2025. Even then, he will be a hot topic as a “buy low” in the season because of his talent. Ricky Pearsall is another case of an injury ruining a rookie season. Firstly, he was shot in the chest in late August. Additionally, Pearsall sustained a PCL injury during his Week 4 matchup against Jacksonville. He went on to miss six games, but even after his return, he was never at full s [... truncated ...]

Trey Wingo assesses 49ers' 2026 ceiling, explains what they must avoid

Trey Wingo assesses 49ers' 2026 ceiling, explains what they must avoid originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area After a 12-5 regular-season record and a 2025 divisional-round playoff exit, the 49ers are looking to 2026, and NFL analyst Trey Wingo believes the team is ready for another season of Super Bowl contention for San Francisco . “They have every opportunity to do what they’ve had every year with Kyle Shanahan: Go as far as their talent can take them,” Wingo told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco at the American Century Championship in South Lake Tahoe on Wednesday. “They have the ability to be one of those top-five teams every year that can win it all, but things have got to go their way. The last few years with the injuries, they just haven’t.” Last season, the 49ers had a chance for the NFC’s No. 1 seed in Week 18 before falling to the Seattle Seahawks – the team that would also knock them out of the NFL postseason. “Obviously, Seattle’s defense was great,” Wingo told Maiocco when discussing the pair of losses. “They’ve lost a couple of players, but their core is still there. But the 49ers lose all their players every year – that’s a part of it. [George] Kittle gets hurt. All the wide receivers get hurt.” “I love Mike Evans , I think that’s a great pickup for them. The thing for me in San Francisco is, can they just not be one of the top-three most injured teams in football? It feels like the last five years in a row that’s been the case. That and playing Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl is the only thing that can slow them down.” The 49ers faced the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV and LVIII , dropping both matchups in the process. “The only two times that Kyle Shanahan has not made the postseason is after losing to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the Super Bowl,” Wingo said. “They’re consistent, they just got to avoid just getting bereft with injuries and they’ve got to figure a way to keep that receiving corps a little more steady.” In addition to the Evans signing this offseason , San Francisco also added De’Zhaun Stribling with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to boost the wideout depth. While the offensive struggles against the Seahawks to end the season were notable, Wingo also told Maiocco that he’s not ready to give up on Shanahan – someone widely regarded as an offensive guru. “I’m not giving up on Kyle Shanahan,” Wingo said. “I know there’s a lot of people that might not be as thrilled about his rate of success in the Bay Area. But, if Kyle Shanahan was fired tomorrow, there would be 28 teams that would be clamoring to have him.” In addition to Evans and Kittle, the 49ers have a myriad of offensive talent returning to the team, starting with Christian McCaffrey and Brock Purdy , as well as plenty of key returners on the defensive side of the ball. Only time will tell, however, if the team can finally break through to the promised land and finally hoist the Lombardi trophy. Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast

49ers 90-in-90: Jordan Watkins reminds us of a pair of former Kyle Shanahan receivers

There’s always excitement around rookie wide receivers. That’s true for De’Zhaun Stribling this season, and it was true for Jordan Watkins last year. There’s a running joke about young wideouts on the San Francisco 49ers falling into Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse early in their careers. Shanahan explained why we didn’t see much of Watkins as a rookie back in January: Jordan got hurt in his first preseason game with a high ankle sprain, and he needed, he wasn’t ready yet, like 95-percent of guys who come into training camp aren’t. And then you take them through a few preseason games, you take them through an entire training camp and they’ve got a chance to get there for Week 1. And then they usually realize, ‘oh, I’m not totally quite ready. This is what I’ve got to do and maybe I can get there by Week 5, Week 6.’ When you get hurt right away in training camp and you miss a whole training camp it’s a huge window for guys who aren’t quite ready yet. That was their chance to get ready. And then when you come back, where are you when you come back? If it’s off a high ankle sprain, how’s your conditioning now? Alright, now it takes you three weeks just to get your conditioning back to where you can start to have a chance to improve. And when that happens, you have a setback, which he did. And so, you kind of miss that window where you had a chance to gain on people. And then where you sit in Week 12, Week 13 behind a group of guys that are more consistent at this time in their career than you are. And then it just, it becomes unfortunate for those guys. You know, when you have a losing season, you’re totally out of stuff and you just want to give guys chances and that’s all right. But, when you’re trying to compete for one seed, trying to compete just to get in the playoffs, you don’t experiment with that at the expense of the football team. Watkins had an ideal opportunity as a rookie to step onto the field. The circumstances are different now with Mike Evans and De’Zhaun Stribling on the roster. Can he still find a way to contribute? Age: 24 Experience: 1 accrued season Height: 5’11 Weight: 196 pounds Watkins’ cap number is just over $1 million this season. Most teams will give their players on rookie contracts the benefit of the doubt so long as they’re competent. Watkins has a long way to go before he’s “on the bubble” when he’s costing the team o.34 percent of their cap. Watkins’ base salary is a hair over $1 million this upcoming season, and his signing bonus is $166,454, which brings his cap number for 2026 to $1,171,454. I imagine Watkins will be the Skyy Moore of 2026, but a more complete version. During OTAs, Watkins and Jacob Cowing were the primary kick and punt returners. Rookie wideout Will Pauling mixed in here and there, but the former two are the starters. Watkins was the only one who didn’t muff a punt. Watkins can have the same kind of splash returns as Moore without fielding the ball inside the five-yard line and driving everybody in the stadium crazy in the process. They have similar body types; Watkins ran a 4.37 40, compared to Moore’s 4.41. Moore reaches his top speed quicker, and that’s what made him a successful punt returner. Watkins’ 10-yard split was in the 65th percentile, compared to Moore’s 98th percentile 10-yard split. The team tried to use Moore on offense, but to no avail. He couldn’t shake free, no matter where Kyle Shanahan lined him up. Interestingly enough, Watkins played most of his snaps at “X” as the isolated receiver. He only ran 15 routes, so there’s not much film to go off of Watkins as a rookie. Still, his usage stood out. The first target of the season went from Watkins’ hands on a sail concept, 15 yards downfield from Mac Jones . It’s a pass he should’ve caught, but those are the kind of routes you can run with a 4.3 wideout. Later on in the game, Watkins turned Kamari Lassiter around on a deep out route. He was two yards deeper than Kendrick Bourne . Somebody ran their [... truncated ...]

George Kittle: Mike Evans is our first veteran WR since Emmanuel Sanders

49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk called Mike Evans “ unguardable ” during the offseason practices. 49ers tight end George Kittle concurs. Kittle lauded Evans’ veteran leadership and football IQ. “One thing that I was talking to [quarterback Brock] Purdy about a couple of days ago was that this is our first veteran wide receiver since we had Emmanuel Sanders,” Kittle said recently on the New Heights podcast, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. “Like, I had Deebo [Samuel]. I had Brandon Aiyuk. But they were both like years one through four—Deebo was like year five. “But Mike Evans is a guy, like, just watching him and his savviness—you know the concept; you have coverage in the red zone; one guy has the corner; the other guy has the ‘now’ route underneath it—and the way he sets it up versus a defender with outside leverage and then just gets wide open, and I’m just like, ‘It’s so fun to watch.’” The 49ers, even with all their injuries last season, still finished fifth in passing offense. If Evans can stay healthy, he should make them even better. Evans’ NFL-record 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start his career ended last season when he had career-lows in catches (30), yards (368) and touchdowns (three) because of a collarbone injury that limited him to a career-low eight games. “Just so savvy,” Kittle said. “Catches everything; runs great routes; gives great effort. I’m all-in on Mike Evans.”

Cleveland Browns news (7/4): Happy 250th Birthday, America!

Cleveland Browns training camp 2026: QB preview Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders? (Chris Pokorny) – Who wins the starting quarterback job for the Cleveland Browns? Start, Bench, Cut: Browns Legends Edition (Abby Mueller) – When looking at these three Cleveland Browns fan favorites, which would you start, bench, and cut. The Browns’ defensive line just lost its safety net and now everyone has to deliver (Orange and Brown Talk) – For years, opposing offenses had a simple answer to Cleveland’s defensive line problem: figure out where Myles Garrett is lining up and send your best blocker or two his way. Everything else sorted itself out from there. Garrett drew the attention, opened the lanes and made everyone else’s job manageable. What would best version of Jared Verse look like? Browns hope to find out (Beacon Journal) – Jared Verse’s entire football career has been built off proving people wrong. Browns reportedly make stance clear on trading Shedeur Sanders after disappointing rookie season (The Sporting News) – Shedeur Sanders likely didn’t expect to be heavily involved in trade rumors before the start of his second NFL season. Mike Evans is fitting right in with the 49ers (ESPN) – Standing at a lectern following a recent offseason practice, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans casually answered questions in his mild-mannered way for nearly seven minutes. N.Y. Giants training camp preview: One thought on Skattebo, Dart and every player on offense (The Athletic) – A new coaching staff means new players. That’s the case for the New York Giants , as first-year coach John Harbaugh will oversee an offense comprised of 35.5 percent new players. As training camp approaches, here’s one thought on all of the new faces and the returning players on offense. Former Rams cornerback LeRoy Irvin, who holds NFL punt return record, dies at 68 (Orange County Register) – Irvin starred for the Rams during the 1980s, first making an impact on special teams before earning a starting spot in the secondary. The two-time All-Pro holds the franchise record for most non-offensive touchdowns (11)