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    Evans back at practice on Monday

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    SF Wide Receiver #5
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    Mike Evans (quad) returned to practice on Monday.

    He was limited to individual work, but it’s a good sign that Evans is back on the field at all. It does seem like his quad injury isn’t much to worry about and that he can be drafted with that in mind.
Levis, McCarthy have things to prove in preseason
Chris Simms and Mike Florio discuss the players they want to see something from during Week 1 of the 2026 NFL preseason, breaking down why Will Levis, Will Howard and J.J. McCarthy have things to prove.

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  • SF Wide Receiver #5
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    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.
  • SF Wide Receiver #5
    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.

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    Steelers signed LB Elandon Roberts, formerly of the Raiders, to a one-year contract.

    Roberts played with the Steelers from 2023-2024, starting 29 games and tallying 147 combined tackles with 3.5 sacks in that span. The 31-year-old started 16 games for the Raiders last season and now returns to Pittsburgh to be a veteran presence in the middle of the defense. With Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson the listed starters at linebacker, Roberts will need to compete for snaps to stick on the Steelers roster this season.
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    Panthers signed TE Darren Waller, formerly of the Dolphins, to a one-year contract.

    Waller returned from retirement to play in nine games for the Dolphins last season. He hauled in 24-of-34 targets for 283 and six touchdowns before a groin injury ended his season prior to Week 18. The 33-year-old has a chance at being a red zone target for the Panthers, who previously had Tommy Tremble, Mitchell Evans, and Ja’Tavion Sanders listed at tight end. Waller brings veteran experience as a late add who should get enough usage to make him an option as a low-end TE2 for fantasy purposes.
  • SEA Running Back #8
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    Seahawks RB Jadarian Price (soreness) returned to practice Wednesday.

    The Seahawks held a walkthrough on Wednesday and Price was on the practice field for the first time in five practices. The News Tribune’s Gregg Bell reports he was walking through with the starting offense. Good news for fantasy managers as Price’s injury looks to still be soreness and nothing more. It is just a walkthrough practice, but fantasy managers shouldn’t expect this soreness management to impact his Week 1 status.
  • BAL Quarterback #11
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    Ravens placed QB Skylar Thompson on injured reserve.

    Thompson signed with the Ravens in the offseason but dealt with an undisclosed injury in training camp. He heads to injured reserve, likely ending his season; he and the team may reach an injury settlement in the coming days. The Ravens signed former UFL quarterback Austin Reed in his place. Reed figures to get some game time during preseason as the team’s fourth-string quarterback.
  • MIN Quarterback #9
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    When asked about his future with the Vikings, QB J.J. McCarthy said, “this is the place I want to be.”

    With the Vikings naming Kyler Murray as the starter, McCarthy’s future in Minnesota is in question. The 23-year-old is entering his third season and still has plenty to work on, though losing the Week 1 starting job indicates his chances to start for the Vikings again are dwindling. When asked about his future, McCarthy stated he wants to be in Minnesota and will “continue to just do whatever [he] can for this team and this organization.” The room for error for young quarterbacks is thin in the NFL and though he is saying the right things to the media, McCarthy is a former first-rounder that may want to move on, should he have no future as a starter with the Vikings. He will start the season as the backup while the Vikings evaluate their quarterback room throughout the season; it wouldn’t be a surprise to see McCarthy depart Minnesota between now and this time next year.
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    ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Deshaun Watson will start the Browns’ preseason opener against the Bears.

    Per Schefter, Todd Monken informed the quarterbacks this afternoon that Watson will get the first preseason start and Shedeur Sanders will draw the second. He will face Buffalo. We don’t want to read too much into the order of the starts, but it’s at least somewhat notable that Watson is first in line. The next two preseason games will likely determine Cleveland’s Week 1 starter. Neither option will do the Browns’ pass-catchers any favors for fantasy purposes.
  • SF Cornerback #30
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    49ers signed CB Eli Apple.

    The 49ers cut Apple a week ago but are bringing him back a day before their preseason opener. He will be a depth option for the team versus the Titans on Thursday.
  • NE Running Back #28
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    Patriots signed Hassan Haskins, formerly of the Chargers.

    Haskins appeared in a dozen games for the Chargers last year. He only saw 17 carries, which he turned into 45 yards, but did tally over 150 special teams snaps. That could ultimately be his path to a roster spot in New England.
  • SF Running Back #3
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    49ers signed Zamir White, formerly of the Raiders.

    White only appeared in six games for the Raiders last year. He logged a dozen carries for 32 yards. With Kaelon Black, Jordan James, Isaac Guerendo, and Christian McCaffrey all banged up, the 49ers desperately need another warm body as they head into their first preseason contest. White could even see some run versus the Titans tomorrow, though he is still a long-shot to make the 53-man roster at the end of camp.
  • ATL Quarterback #9
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    Michael Penix said his doctor told him he has “an amazing ACL” and he should “never have any more knee problems for the rest of your career.”

    This is not parody, somehow. Penix infamously tore his right ACL twice while in college and then suffered a partial tear in his left ACL last year. The totally real doctor was presumably referring to his left knee. Penix, who hasn’t participated in team drills during training camp, later added that the only thing he can’t do in practice right now is take a hit. Last we checked, that is a major part of the game of football. Meanwhile, Tua Tagovailoa is slated to start the team’s preseason opener versus Denver later this week. Penix doesn’t seem to have much of a shot at being the Week 1 starter given his slow recovery, but the leash on Tua will be short. Penix remains the favorite to start more games this year, though only by a narrow margin.