SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- After playing through Achilles soreness for most of the first half of Monday night's game against the Washington Commanders, San Francisco 49ers receiver Mike Evans departed just before halftime because of an Achilles injury.
The 49ers initially labeled Evans as questionable to return but ruled him out early in the third quarter. They went on to win, 23-17.
"Same thing that was bothering him all week," coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game. "Acted up too much in the game and couldn't go. We'll see how he feels this week."
Shanahan added that he doesn't believe Evans will need additional testing on the Achilles.
With 1:10 left in the second quarter, Evans caught a 16-yard in-breaker from quarterback Brock Purdy. After Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves touched him down, Evans stayed on the field and stretched his right leg.
Niners medical personnel ran on the field, helped Evans up and then supported him as he slowly walked back to the locker room.
Evans did not practice all week because of an ongoing recovery from broken ribs and a sore Achilles. He had a questionable tag entering the game, with Shanahan saying after the game that it was a close call on whether he'd play.
"We knew he might not be able to last," the coach said.
Evans had three catches for 94 yards before exiting.
Without Evans, the only healthy Niners receivers available were Jordan Watkins, Brandin Cooks, Jacob Cowing and Malik Turner.
"Obviously having him out there, he's a Hall of Famer," Purdy told ESPN after the game.
"But I thought our guys stepped. We still got to find a way to make plays."
