The San Francisco 49ers opened preparations for their season opener with an uncertain injury outlook Monday in Melbourne. Wide receiver Mike Evans returned to practice after missing significant portions of training camp, while defensive end Nick Bosa and running back Christian McCaffrey were absent from drills during the media-open portion of the session. Tight end George Kittle, however, continued his recovery from a torn Achilles by participating in individual work. Mike Evans offered the most concrete reason for optimism regarding the team's health. The veteran receiver dealt with groin and quadriceps injuries during the summer, which followed hamstring issues that caused him to miss games in recent seasons. Evans stated that his limited workload was a precautionary measure by the team, rather than an indication of serious injury severity. "The training staff, they did a great job working with me," Evans told reporters. "I know I’m an older player. I’ve had probably over a thousand practices, football practices in my life now, so I know what I’m doing out there. They know what they’re doing. They did a good job taking care of me." Evans expressed confidence in his readiness, saying, "None of my injuries were significant. If it was a game week, I wouldn’t have missed any time.” This suggests he is expected to play against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday. His availability is crucial, particularly with wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Christian Kirk on the injured reserve list, placing increased responsibility on Evans to be a reliable target for quarterback Brock Purdy.
The injury status of Bosa and McCaffrey remained less clear. Bosa did not participate in early drills, having managed tendinitis in his surgically repaired right knee for much of training camp. Despite his absence from practice, Bosa had previously stated his intention to play. McCaffrey also spoke with reporters but stayed on the sideline once practice began. He missed two weeks of camp as part of a planned ramp-up to ensure he remains fresh throughout the season. Last year, McCaffrey appeared in all 17 games, accumulating 1,202 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Neither Bosa's nor McCaffrey's absence carried an official injury designation. Due to the unique schedule of the NFL's first game in Melbourne, the 49ers were not required to release a participation report on Monday. Head coach Kyle Shanahan made a lighthearted remark about the situation: "Because we’re technically in the future from where we’re from and the Rams are in the present, I don’t have to talk about injuries until tomorrow. So I’m not talking about them.” George Kittle's participation in individual drills was a positive sign, less than eight months after he suffered an Achilles tear. However, even if cleared to play, the team may limit his snaps in his return game. With Aaron Donald returning to the Rams' defensive front and expected to play, the 49ers will aim to have as many key offensive playmakers available as possible. The team's formal injury report, due Tuesday, is expected to provide further clarity on the status of Bosa, McCaffrey, and Kittle.