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    Rap: Mike Evans has ‘very minor’ quad strain

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    SF Wide Receiver #5
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Mike Evans’ quad strain is “very minor.”

    Given the way injuries have piled up for the 49ers during their first week of camp, this is pretty good news. Evans, 32, could miss a few days due to his injury, but the veteran receiver isn’t expected to miss any significant time. Evans was having a strong first few days of camp before his injury and should be firmly in the conversation as a WR2 for fantasy this season.
Sando breaks down NFL QB tier list
Mike Sando joins Dan Patrick to break down his quarterback tiers, unpacking the criteria and notable names that fall in each.

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  • SF Wide Receiver #5
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    The injuries continue to mount for the 49ers early in camp. Evans is reportedly dealing with a quad strain that we will hopefully learn more about later, and rookie De’Zhaun Stribling (hamstring) and Kaelon Black (adductor) are also missing Monday’s practice due to injuries. The recent string of injuries now makes for four receivers the Niners have seen go down in camp, with Christian Kirk (calf) and Ricky Pearsall (knee) both being injured last week. We will check back in when we receive updates on the status of these players.
  • SF Wide Receiver #5
    Kittle described Evans as being “the first legit veteran wide receiver [he’s] had on [the] roster since Emmanuel Sanders in 2019,” adding that Evans “takes ball seriously.” The 49ers’ wide receiver corps has had its distractions over the past few seasons, but it appears as though Evans has been a stabilizing presence for the offense. Teammates told The Athletic’s Matt Barrows that “Evans’ length and route-running ability have already been evident,” and Evans has played very well in red zone drills. Evans adds that his change of scenery, from Tampa Bay to San Francisco, has him feeling “rejuvenated.” If his health can hold up, Evans could find himself in the fantasy WR2 tier with touchdown-based upside.
  • FA Wide Receiver
    Boston has a good chance of being on the draft board when the 49ers make their first round selection at No. 27 overall. Boston in his final collegiate season at Washington had 62 receptions for 881 receiving yards (14.2 yards per catch) and was tied for ninth in the FBS with 11 receiving touchdowns. Boston ranks 42nd in yards per route run among wideouts in the 2026 draft class. The big-bodied Boston would pair well with veteran Mike Evans, who signed with the Niners during free agency. With Evans, Boston, and George Kittle, Brock Purdy would have a range of excellent red zone options in 2026.
  • SF Wide Receiver
    Wagoner prefaced the statement by revealing that in the first meeting between 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and Evans, “Shanahan laid out the plan for how he will be incorporated into an offense that also includes” RB Christian McCaffrey, TE George Kittle and QB Brock Purdy. McCaffrey’s 95 red zone touches in the 2025 regular season led all 49ers players by 79 and all other NFL players by 21. Knowing that Shanahan is already scheming up red zone opportunities for Evans is great to hear. McCaffrey can also lose a few red zone touches and still remain an elite RB1. There should be more than enough opportunities in scoring position for both players to feast. Evans currently projects as a WR2 with double-digit touchdown upside.
  • SF Wide Receiver #13
    It could essentially be a one-year contract, as only about $16.3 million is guaranteed. The Buccaneers lifer will now work with Brock Purdy in the Bay Area. A broken collarbone ruined Evans’ 2025 season, but it’s hard to believe if he’s healthy he won’t remain a stalwart WR2 in what profiles to be an improved passing game fit. Evans will take Jauan Jennings’ role with Ricky Pearsall on the other side of the formation, and he’ll do what Jennings did last year — box out smaller defensive backs and win contested balls. Jennings had nine touchdowns last year despite missing part of the season and playing with Mac Jones for other parts of it. 10-plus touchdowns is absolutely in Evans’ range of outcomes.
  • FA Wide Receiver #13
    Less than an hour away from being able to test free agency for the first time in his career, Evans, who will be 33 at the start of next season, could officially be on the move. The veteran receiver is coming off the worst season of his career (30-368-3), which saw him miss nine games due to a collarbone injury. Evans will likely be looking to join a team that he believes can contend for a Super Bowl title over his final few years in the league, and should have multiple high-end suitors once the legal tampering period begins. While a return to the Buccaneers remains on the table, it wouldn’t be surprising if they opted to lean into their younger receivers, along with Chris Godwin, next season.
  • TB Wide Receiver #13
    Evans will likely look to join a team he believes can contend for a title in 2026, but his relationship with Browns head coach Todd Monken could make Cleveland a sleeper destination. Evans spent three seasons with Monken (2016-2018) and had three-straight 1,000-yard seasons under him. The 173 targets Evans saw in 2016 led all receivers that season and remain the most he has ever seen in his career. It would be legitimately surprising if Evans decided to spend what could be the final season or two of his career in Cleveland, but we can’t blame them for wanting to see if there’s any interest in the soon-to-be 33-year-old receiver.
  • TB Wide Receiver #13
    This is the majority of the list that Jonathan Jones had earlier this week, minus the Bills who have since acquired DJ Moore. Given the lack of an established franchise quarterback we’d be surprised if the Giants made it to the end of Evans’ deliberations. The other three teams all make plenty of sense, though it should be noted that several of the sourced men have cautioned against the idea that Evans would leave.
  • TB Wide Receiver #13
    Jones reports that there is a “real chance” Evans departs the Buccaneers this offseason. The Texans and Chiefs are reportedly not in on Evans but Jones adds the Bills, Chargers, 49ers, Commanders and Giants are teams to eye with interest. The 33-year-old was limited by injury last season, though his Pro Bowl pedigree can certainly elevate his next contract to the $20 million range. A return to Tampa Bay is still one of the likelier options in addition to interest from the aforementioned teams.
  • TB Wide Receiver #13
    Bucs officials met with Evans’ representation at the NFL Combine and appear ready to make an all-out push to bring back the veteran for 2026. Evans, entering his age-33 season, said this month he would return for a 13th NFL season, but declined to say where he might play. Evans in 2025 struggled through injuries, including a collar bones injury, catching 30 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns while missing nine games. He posted the second lowest receiving success rate of his storied NFL career. Evans would be a good fit for multiple contenders, including the wideout-needy Patriots and Bills.

Rotoworld

  • TB Wide Receiver #15
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    Buccaneers WR Tez Johnson left Tuesday’s practice early with a groin injury.

    Johnson left practice early Tuesday to get treatment for an apparent strain. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said the 24-year-old wideout is dealing with a groin injury. The severity of the injury is unclear as Bowles said it’s too early to tell if any of the team’s top four wide receivers would miss next week’s joint practices with the Jets. Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan also missed practice out of maintenance and precaution. With Johnson and David Sills also exiting practice, rookie Ted Hurst saw a boost in practice reps.
  • FA Tight End #86
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    ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports free agent TE Zach Ertz (ACL) is “cleared for all football activities.”

    Ertz tore his ACL in Week 14 last season with the Commanders. Schefter reports the 35-year-old is ready for football activities and was catching passes from Andrew Luck at Stanford on Tuesday. He caught 50 passes for 504 yards and four touchdowns last season, seeing at least 70 targets in each of the last two seasons with the Commanders. Ertz has expressed a desire to continue playing and Schefter reports the veteran is “expected to be ready to sign in mid-August.” His top-15 fantasy tight end days are behind him, but Ertz can certainly offer some help in the tight end landscape this season, pending his landing spot.
  • TB Wide Receiver #14
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    Buccaneers WRs Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan did not practice Tuesday to manage injuries and soreness.

    Fox Sports’ Greg Auman reported the three lead Buccaneers receivers got the day off Tuesday. For Godwin, it is a veteran maintenance day as he aims to open the season fully healthy; expect him to see more maintenance days heading into preseason. Egbuka and McMillan are dealing with lower-body soreness and were held out of practice out of precaution. Ultimately, no major injury concerns as the Bucs play it safe with their top three wideouts in training camp.
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    NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reports the Browns will alternate QBs Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson as preseason starters.

    Wolfe said Browns head coach Todd Monken told him the team will start “one quarterback the first preseason game, the other one will start the second one, and most likely the leader of the competition is going to start the third.” It sounds like Monken is planning to give both Watson and Sanders a chance to compete and build chemistry in camp and preseason before determining a leader in the quarterback race. The Browns’ quarterback room is one of the few truly dead-even quarterback competitions occurring in camp and fantasy managers can stay tuned to preseason play to assess if Watson or Sanders has the edge to start Week 1.
  • DEN Outside Linebacker #15
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    Broncos head coach Sean Payton said EDGE Nik Bonitto (lower leg) will be “fine” after leaving practice early Tuesday.

    Bonitto suffered a lower leg injury in drills Tuesday and did not return to practice. He limped off under his own power surrounded by the Broncos’ training staff. Payton said he had “no updates” on the 26-year-old pass rusher but that Bonitto will be “fine.” It is unclear how severe his injury is, but based on Payton’s response, it seems Bonitto will be fine in the long term and may only miss some camp time.
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    Commanders CB Ahkello Witherspoon retired after nine seasons in the NFL.

    Witherspoon was placed on the reserve/retired list Tuesday, just a few months after initially signing with the Commanders. The 31-year-old entered the league with the 49ers as a 2017 third-rounder. Witherspoon tallied 60 passes defended and 13 interceptions over his career, spending four seasons in San Francisco, two with the Steelers, and the past three seasons with the Rams.
  • DET Wide Receiver #18
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    The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy reports a lot of targets to Isaac TeSlaa in the early portion of training camp have been broken up “due to a lack of separation.”

    We weren’t expecting a major target share for TeSlaa anyway in this offense, and he makes his living making contested catches, but it’s still a little disappointing that he hasn’t taken more of a step forward from his rookie season so far. TeSlaa is probably only a consideration in deeper leagues at this time.
  • CHI Running Back #25
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    Kyle Monangai (undisclosed soft tissue injury) returned to team drills Tuesday.

    He missed four training camp practices while dealing with the injury, but it seems that this won’t be a long-term hinderance. He can be drafted with confidence, or at least as much confidence as you can find in backs in a timeshare, in fantasy leagues.
  • NYG Quarterback #6
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    The Athletic’s Dan Duggan reports the Giants offense has looked “disjointed” early in training camp.

    Part of this stems from asking Jaxson Dart to “run a more traditional offense,” meaning more under-center snaps for the second-year pro as opposed to last year’s shotgun-heavy offense that Brian Daboll built while heavily borrowing from the Ole Miss playbook. Another part of it in Duggan’s estimation is that the Giants pass rush has been “dominant” early in training camp. “You can’t even imagine how much there is for a quarterback to operate with, especially in a new offense,” John Harbaugh said. “He’s done an outstanding job.” It’s probably too soon to be overly worried about Dart this year, but he does profile as a risky fantasy pick in Matt Nagy’s new offense.
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    Lions signed RB Raheem Blackshear.

    They also worked out Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Hassan Haskins and Kylin James and settled on Blackshear of the group. Blackshear has been a worthwhile return specialist and may have a chance to handle that role with the Lions.