San Francisco 49ers' Injury Woes Mount as Star Receiver Mike Evans Carted Off
Wide receiver Mike Evans was injured and struggled to breathe after a hit, adding to the 49ers' growing list of sidelined players.
The San Francisco 49ers' injury concerns have deepened with wide receiver Mike Evans being carted to the locker room after appearing to struggle to breathe following a hit during Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Evans sustained the injury in the second quarter after making a catch and being tackled by Cardinals safety Budda Baker. He initially continued playing but later appeared to clutch his ribs and was helped off the field by trainers. Injury analyst Jeff Mueller shared a clip of Evans on X, noting he seemed to be in significant pain and having difficulty breathing.
While no official update on the nature of Evans' injury has been provided, he was later seen sitting on the back of a cart en route to the locker room. This incident adds to a string of health issues for Evans, who was already listed as day-to-day with a hip injury leading up to the game. He has a history of injuries, including a left quad strain, a groin strain, and surgery for a broken collarbone last season.
Evans' injury occurred shortly after he scored his second touchdown of the season. His absence further strains an offense already depleted by injuries. Other receivers sidelined include Demarcus Robinson (high ankle sprain), De'Zhaun Stribling (injured in Week 1), Christian Kirk (still recovering), and Ricky Pearsall (recovering from knee surgery).
The team's defensive unit has also been significantly impacted. Star defensive end Nick Bosa is expected to miss multiple weeks with a calf injury. Six defensive players have been injured in the past two weeks, including Alfred Collins (torn patellar tendon), Sam Okuayinonu (broken foot), James Thompson Jr. (high ankle sprain), Romello Height (broken hand), and CJ West (bone chip in knee). Mykel Williams remains on the PUP list from a torn ACL sustained last season.
These mounting injuries have fueled speculation and conspiracy theories among fans and even some players regarding a potential "curse" affecting the team. The 49ers organization previously investigated an electrical substation near their practice facility after a viral social media thread suggested it might be contributing to the high number of injuries. General Manager John Lynch dismissed these concerns, stating the investigation found no unsafe EMF exposure levels, but the injuries have persisted.