Sources say San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans is dealing with a groin injury that is considered minor, and he is fairly confident he will be ready for Week 1.
Health update and outlook
According to Yahoo! News, which cited ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Evans intends to be on the field for the 49ers' season opener in Melbourne, Australia, and his latest groin problem has been characterized as minor. Fowler reported that Evans "plans to play Week 1" after a training camp marked by intermittent availability.
Reports say Evans is dealing with a groin injury; head coach Kyle Shanahan said the team hopes to get him back at practice next week following the mandatory days off after the preseason finale, and the groin issue is currently considered minor barring any change.
Context
Evans, the 49ers' prized offensive free-agent addition this offseason, has dealt with injuries during training camp, making his Week 1 status a point of attention for the team and national outlets.
What the reporting shows
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans is dealing with a groin injury that is considered minor. He intends to be on the field for Week 1, and the 49ers hope to get him back at practice next week.
Practically, that means Evans appears on track to be active for the opener barring any setback. Both outlets included the caveat that the situation could change, and Yardbarker noted the team is aiming to get him back into practice as soon as the next week.
Why it matters
Evans' availability for Week 1 is significant because he was a high-profile free-agent acquisition and missed stretches of camp due to injury. The current reporting suggests the issue is manageable, but the 49ers will rely on the return-to-practice timeline and standard medical clearance before confirming his status for the trip to Melbourne.
For now, the clearest takeaways from the reporting are: Evans plans to play in Week 1 (a projection reported by ESPN via Yahoo! News), his groin issue has been described as minor, and the 49ers hope to see him back at practice next week, according to Yardbarker.
