Mike Evans has established himself as one of the NFL’s most productive wide receivers throughout his career. However, his first season in San Francisco has been interrupted by an injury that continues to keep him away from the field.

Evans will miss his second consecutive game when the 49ers face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 9, despite having an additional week to recover during San Francisco’s bye. His absence is another setback for Kyle Shanahan’s team, which is already dealing with multiple injuries.

What Happened to Mike Evans?

Evans is dealing with Achilles tendinitis, which initially flared up during the 49ers’ Week 6 win over the Washington Commanders.

Evans attempted to play through the discomfort but eventually went down after making a 16-yard reception. He remained on the field for several moments before getting back up and hobbling toward the locker room. He did not return to the game.

Shanahan later confirmed that Evans experienced a flare-up of his existing Achilles tendinitis.

“It’s something that he’s had before, something that bothered him throughout the week,” Shanahan said. “When you have Achilles tendinitis like he does, it kind of is what it is. It flared up tonight, and I hope he recovers throughout the week.”

Shanahan also said that the injury nearly cost Evans the entire game, ultimately forcing him to miss the final two quarters.

Evans later missed San Francisco’s October 25 game against the Atlanta Falcons. The additional recovery time during the bye week was, however, not enough to get him ready for Week 9 against the Raiders.

ESPN’s Nick Wagoner reported that Evans did not participate in the portion of Friday’s practice open to the media before getting ruled out for Week 9.

The 49ers will also be without Deebo Samuel and Christian Kirk, leaving Shanahan’s offense short-handed at wide receiver.

Why are the 49ers Being Cautious With Evans’ Injury?

The biggest concern surrounding Evans is the possibility that his Achilles problem could become a long-term issue. Evans has reportedly made “a lot of progress,” but the 49ers don’t want to risk pushing him too hard too soon.

General manager John Lynch explained that San Francisco is learning from its previous experience with Christian McCaffrey.

“I think you learn from the history,” Lynch told KNBR radio in San Francisco on Thursday. “Christian 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.”

When Will Evans Return?

Evans’ return timeline remains uncertain, but Week 10 against the Dallas Cowboys is a potential target. Whether he returns against Dallas will depend on how well his Achilles responds to continued treatment and recovery.

Evans’ return will serve as a big boost for the 49ers offense, which sits at No. 2 in PFN Offense Impact Score with an 86.7 grade.