49ers face Mike Evans injury setback as Super Bowl hopes hinge on his return

Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesThe San Francisco 49ers have been handed another concerning Mike Evans injury update as doubts grow over the wide receiver’s availability for their upcoming clash with the Dallas Cowboys.Evans has missed the last two games with Achilles tendinitis and the 49ers do not expect him to practise when they begin their preparations for the Cowboys. His absence could stretch further if the injury does not improve.San Francisco recently added veteran receiver Keenan Allen from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick. However, the move does not necessarily solve the bigger problem facing Kyle Shanahan’s offence.Mike Evans’ fitness could determine the San Francisco 49ers’ Super Bowl chancesEvans’ importance to the 49ers became clear during his first six appearances after joining the team in the off-season.The veteran caught 27 of his 39 targets for 420 yards and three touchdowns, quickly developing a connection with quarterback Brock Purdy. He also provided the kind of outside receiving threat that San Francisco has struggled to replace during his absence.NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco believes the 49ers’ championship ambitions could depend on getting Evans back to full fitness.Speaking about the situation, Maiocco said: “If the missing piece is missing, the 49ers will be missing out on a championship. The margin for error is thin in the NFL. It’s such a long season and a lot of things have to go right, including luck, to be the last team standing.”He also highlighted the impact Evans made before his injury, adding: “He was a first-down machine, as he caught 27 passes for 420 yards and three touchdowns.”Maiocco believes the 49ers need to be careful with the receiver’s recovery rather than rushing him back before he is ready.Evans joined San Francisco for his 13th NFL season after signing a below-market contract because he believed the team had a genuine chance of winning the Super Bowl.The 49ers remain in a strong position at 7-1 and top of the NFC West. However, their lack of a recognised No. 1 outside receiver without Evans remains a concern.Allen’s arrival gives Purdy another experienced option, but Evans offers a different dimension to the offence. San Francisco will be hoping his recovery progresses quickly as the games become increasingly important.Read more:Nick Wright tears into Vikings’ Kirk Cousins trade with brutal Kevin O’Connell verdictTravis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s neighbours share bizarre reason in $5m home renovation battleChiefs WR Josh Downs sends first message to new fans after joining via trade from Colts