Unbeaten 49ers rule out Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel for Falcons game
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The gist
The 6-0 49ers ruled out wide receivers Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel for Sunday's game at the Atlanta Falcons.
San Francisco is the NFL's only unbeaten team, but its top pass-catchers are thinning out.
Background
The San Francisco 49ers are an NFL team coached by Kyle Shanahan, and they entered Week 7 at 6-0, the league's only undefeated team. After Friday's practice Shanahan ruled out six players for the trip to Atlanta, including veteran wide receiver Mike Evans (33) and Deebo Samuel Sr., plus defensive lineman Nick Bosa. The team then activated veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk from the Injured Reserve List (the list of players sidelined by injury who can return) and signed defensive lineman Ogbo Okoronkwo to the practice squad. A Week 8 bye follows, giving the injured players extra rest.
How it unfolded
- Oct 19, 2026The 49ers beat the Washington Commanders 23-17 to improve to 6-0, though they scored just three points in the second half after leading 20-3 at halftime. Mike Evans exited before halftime with a sore Achilles after three catches for 94 yards.
- Oct 21, 2026The 49ers sat atop The Athletic's Week 7 power rankings at 6-0; their last 6-0 start was 2019, when they lost the Super Bowl to the Chiefs.
- Oct 23, 2026After Friday's practice, Kyle Shanahan ruled out Mike Evans (ribs, Achilles), Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring), Nick Bosa (knee/calf), Luke Gifford (groin), Marques Sigle (ankle) and Garret Wallow (hamstring) for Sunday's game at Atlanta; Christian Kirk, Siran Neal and Upton Stout were listed questionable.
- Oct 24, 2026The 49ers activated Christian Kirk from Injured Reserve, removing his questionable status for Sunday, signed Ogbo Okoronkwo to the practice squad and released Kevin Givens from it.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Offensive coordinator Kyle Kubiak said it is "a big moment" for the remaining receivers if Evans can't go, adding the staff has "full confidence in them."
- Caution
- The Standard's Tim Kawakami predicted a 23-21 49ers win but called it "an obvious potential trap game for the 49ers, but probably too obvious."
- Expert
- Shanahan said Nick Bosa was "a little too optimistic" about his injury, and that soreness the next day "wasn't a great sign" ahead of playing on turf.
Still unverified
Whether Nick Bosa returns to face the Falcons or waits until after the Week 8 bye is undecided; Shanahan had said he was hopeful Evans would be available in Week 7 before ruling him out.