Mike Evans Exits With Achilles Injury Against the Commanders and Is Questionable to Return

San Francisco's Monday night took a bad turn just before halftime. Mike Evans caught a pass late in the second quarter against the Washington Commanders at Levi's Stadium, went to the ground, and grabbed at his Achilles. He was slow to get up, limped straight to the locker room, and did not come back out with the team. Shortly before halftime, the 49ers announced that Evans was questionable to return with an Achilles injury.

The sight was a worry on its own, and the week behind it made it worse. Evans did not practice at all before this game. The team listed him as questionable with injuries to his ribs and his Achilles, and he played anyway, the way he has all season. ESPN's cameras caught him rubbing his Achilles in the tunnel on his way to the locker room.

A big first half before the exit

Evans was hurting Washington before he got hurt. He caught a 24 yard pass on the opening drive before Brock Purdy found George Kittle for the first touchdown of the night. Later in the first quarter, his 54 yard catch put San Francisco deep in Washington territory, and Christian McCaffrey scored from a yard out eight plays later to make it 13 to 3. By halftime Evans had three catches for 94 yards, and San Francisco led 20 to 3 after a second one yard touchdown run by McCaffrey with 13 seconds left in the half. The game was still in progress when this article was published, and no final score is reported here.

The catch that ended his half was a 16 yard completion on second and 15 late in the second quarter. Evans rolled over as he went down and immediately reached for his Achilles, according to reporters at the game.

A thin receiver room gets thinner

Evans is in his first season with San Francisco after 12 seasons in Tampa Bay, and he has been the team's top receiver. He came into Monday night leading the 49ers with 24 catches for 326 yards and three touchdowns. The receiver room around him was already short. Deebo Samuel was inactive on Monday with a hamstring injury, and if Evans cannot return for the second half, Purdy is left throwing to Jacob Cowing, Jordan Watkins, Brandin Cooks and Malik Turner at wide receiver, according to Niners Wire.

Both teams lose a top receiver

Washington had its own bad night. Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin was carted off in the first quarter with a left knee injury and ruled out, so by halftime both teams had lost the receiver their passing game leans on most. The 49ers gave no detail beyond the questionable call on Monday night. Whether Evans comes back in the second half, and what the team says after the game, will tell how serious this is. For now the facts are plain: San Francisco's leading receiver limped off holding the Achilles that had kept him out of practice all week, and he may not return.