San Francisco

49ers

Kittle met with the media this week and said that the Achilles is “doing great” and he has had no setbacks. He even said it’s realistic that he could come back eight months after tearing his Achilles. The tight end turns 33 this October and still hasn’t been cleared for practice as he worked off to the side during OTAs. Jake Tonges will fill in for Kittle if he has to miss any time this season.

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.

Fresh off a two-year contract extension signed in April, Williams enters his 17th season in the league and said 2027 will “probably be his last.” The 12-time Pro Bowl tackle has been a mainstay for the 49ers up front since being acquired prior to the 2020 season, receiving All pro honors in 2021, 2022, and 2023. “I’m toying between the idea of going until I can’t no more and just leaving while I still got some good product left and I get ran out of the league, " Williams said Wednesday. “It’s hard not to compete when you can, so we’ll see.”

The warrant stems from a video recorded by Aiyuk in December in which the beleaguered receiver filmed himself speeding past Levi’s Stadium. Aiyuk remains a member of the 49ers but the team has publicly stated that he has played his last snap with the franchise. Expectations were that the 49ers were looking to trade Aiyuk following June 1, but the most recent fallout from his display of character could throw a wrench in any ongoing negotiations. He appears headed for a release, subjecting himself to the mercy of the free agent market that also includes other notable veteran wide receivers.

The 49ers voided Aiyuk’s 2026 guarantees in November and will only be required to pay him if he remains on the roster on September 1. Fowler said a trade is still possible, but questions remain about Aiyuk’s surgically-repaired knee. He also has not spoken to the organization for some time. It’s an unfortunate situation that could drag on for a while.

Watkins drew positive reviews as a rookie last summer, but September ankle and calf injuries stunted his development, pushing him to the bottom of the depth chart. Cowing’s second NFL season was derailed by a recurring hamstring strain. The Athletic’s Matt Barrows listed him as a standout at Thursday’s practice, but he caught just four passes as a 2024 rookie. Expectations for him must be tempered. Watkins is worth monitoring for deep-league managers.

McCaffrey practiced with the team on Wednesday. He was held out of team drills on Thursday and worked on his conditioning on a side field instead. Late in March, coach Kyle Shanahan said he wants less “wear and tear” on McCaffrey this season. The plan to reduce wear and tear may be limited to the practice week. McCaffrey told reporters today that he thinks “the workload in our sport is really monitored in practice, not in games,” and that he likes to prepare himself “for playing every snap.” McCaffrey posted a league-leading and career-high 413 touches last season. If sitting out practices regularly allows him to handle a similar workload this season, he will once again compete for the overall RB1 spot in fantasy.

Bosa has been rehabbing this offseason after tearing his ACL early in November. He said he is “far along” in the recovery process and should be good to go for the 2026 season. Bosa tore his right ACL in high school and his left ACL in 2020. Although having experience in this department is less than ideal, Bosa said his prior experiences have helped him during this rehab process.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan broke the news this afternoon. This is a bummer. Earlier this month, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur said he believed Guerendo was “buried” on the depth chart and will likely “be looking for a new team” at some point. The team could end up releasing him with an injury settlement, but we suppose some sort of reserve list placement is possible. 49ers RBs Jordan James and Kaelon Black can be expected to compete for RB2 duties at this time. The team also signed RBs Jordan Mims and Jermar Jefferson today.

Jones, who could have started elsewhere this season if the Niners had found a trading partner, will now make $3.55 million in 2026, with another $2.25 million available in incentives. Jones will be a free agent after the 2026 season. The Niners reportedly wanted a first-round draft pick in exchange for Jones. The veteran threw for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions last season over eight games as the Niners’ starter. Jones in 2025 was tenth in EPA per drop back, just behind Sam Darnold and Patrick Mahomes.