Mike Evans limped to the tunnel on Monday night, and 49ers fans already know who they want to blame.

The 49ers receiver caught a 16-yard pass from Brock Purdy with 1:10 left in the first half against the Washington Commanders, diving for the grab to convert a second-and-15.

After Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves touched him down, Evans stayed on the field and tried to stretch his right leg, according to ESPN. Medical staff ran out and helped him up, and he walked slowly to the locker room. He was later seen grabbing his left Achilles in the tunnel. The team initially listed him as questionable to return, then ruled him out early in the third quarter. The injury brings the viral substation theory surrounding the 49ers offseason back to light.

Evans had three catches for 94 yards before he went down. He entered the game questionable with an Achilles injury and an ongoing rib issue.

He did not practice all week while recovering from broken ribs and a sore Achilles. He was active anyway, one week after posting a season-high 113 receiving yards in the win at Seattle.

Fans did not wait to react. “Why did they even let him dress with an Achilles injury?!?!?” one fan wrote.

Another said the warning signs were there. “The moment I saw Achilles added to the injury report I was worried. Should have rested him,” the fan wrote.

Others pointed to coach Kyle Shanahan, who has previously drawn criticism for how he handles injuries. “We’d be almost nothing without Shanahan but why does he do this s--- with injuries,” one fan wrote. “A strained Achilles and he was playing the majority of snaps when the offense was fine without him.”

Some fans had said it before the game that Evans should sit. “Rest Mike Evans until at least after the bye. No reason to put him out there on turf against ATL. The 49ers can win without him,” one fan wrote.

Another added, “Rest for the next three weeks, please!”

San Francisco did not have much depth to cover for him. ESPN listed Jordan Watkins, Brandin Cooks, Jacob Cowing and Malik Turner as the only healthy receivers left.

Deebo Samuel was already out, along with Nick Bosa, and linebacker Dre Greenlaw was serving a one-game suspension.

Evans is in his first season with San Francisco after 12 years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he put up 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons before injuries cut that streak short last year. He signed a three-year deal this offseason and had 326 receiving yards and three touchdowns through five games before Monday.

The 49ers led 20-3 at halftime behind two Christian McCaffrey touchdowns, Washington also lost a receiver, as Terry McLaurin was carted off in the first quarter with a knee injury. San Francisco is 5-0 entering the game, and the Atlanta Falcons are next on the schedule.