First-year San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, battling a rib injury he described as feeling like “somebody stabbed me in my chest.” This is a guy who’s only missed 15 regular-season games across his entire 12-year NFL career, but this time around, his ironman streak might actually be in jeopardy.
That ‘Stabbed Me In My Chest’ Moment
Evans actually suffered this brutal rib injury last Sunday in the 49ers’ 36-30 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Here’s the kicker: he went down in a heap in the second quarter after running a route, and there wasn’t even any contact with an Arizona defender. He struggled to get off the field, dropping to a knee and yelling in pain, before getting carted off. Talking about it for the first time on Friday, Evans was blunt: “That s- hurt bad. … When I ran a route and I turned, I just felt it. It felt like somebody stabbed me in my chest.” He claims he didn’t feel pain until that exact play, but he did admit the injury “might have happened before” then. And get this: on the 49ers’ very first offensive snap of that game, Cardinals safety Budda Baker collided hard with Evans over the middle. Evans went down, called to come off the field, saying “My head was ringing,” but added he “didn’t feel nothing in my chest or rib area” at that point. He somehow returned two plays later and even teamed up with Deebo Samuel for a hook-and-ladder touchdown, only to walk off somberly afterward and take a seat on the bench. Wild stuff.
Old School Tough: Will Evans Fight Through It AGAIN?
The man is a warrior, no doubt. He frequently pops up on injury reports,he dealt with quad and adductor issues during this year’s training camp,but it’s almost a running joke how he always manages to play on Sundays. This week, however, he didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday, only managing a limited participation on Friday. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Evans will be a game-time decision. Shanahan, who actually broke three ribs in a car accident back in July, joked that he’d be out “without a doubt” if he were in Evans’ shoes. General manager John Lynch called Evans a “tough SOB” and an “old school” player this week, and you just know he’s earned that reputation. Evans himself said he’s played through rib injuries before. When asked if he expects to play through this one? His response was classic: “I’ll do my best.”
So, the big question mark hangs over Levi’s Stadium. Will Mike Evans, the guy who feels like he got stabbed in the chest but still tells you he’ll “do his best,” actually be out there against the Denver Broncos this Sunday? Every fan will be glued to their phones waiting for that game-time decision.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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