The San Francisco 49ers began preparations for their season opener on Monday in Melbourne, facing an uneven injury situation. Mike Evans returned to practice after missing much of training camp, while teammates Nick Bosa and Christian McCaffrey did not participate in drills during the portion open to reporters. George Kittle continued his recovery from a torn Achilles by participating in individual work.
Evans addressed his recent injuries, which included groin and quadriceps issues, and emphasized that his limited practice time was due to the team's caution rather than the severity of his conditions. "The training staff, they did a great job working with me," Evans stated. "None of my injuries were significant. If it was a game week, I wouldn’t have missed any time."
His comments suggest that he is likely to play against the Rams on Thursday, especially given the absence of Ricky Pearsall and Christian Kirk, who are on injured reserve. Evans's role has become increasingly important as the team looks for reliable targets for quarterback Brock Purdy.
Bosa's situation remains unclear as he did not participate in early drills while managing tendinitis in his surgically repaired right knee. However, he expressed confidence about playing, stating, "I’m flying out there, I’m going to f–king play."
McCaffrey, who missed two weeks of camp for a planned ramp-up, was present but did not participate in practice. He played all 17 games last season, rushing for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The 49ers did not release an official injury report on Monday due to the unique scheduling of the first NFL game in Melbourne. Head coach Kyle Shanahan humorously noted, "Because we’re technically in the future from where we’re from and the Rams are in the present, I don’t have to talk about injuries until tomorrow."
Kittle's participation in individual drills marks a positive sign for his recovery, although the team may limit his snaps in his first game back. With Aaron Donald returning to the Rams' defense, the 49ers will aim to have as many veteran players available as possible. A formal injury report will provide more details on Bosa, McCaffrey, and Kittle's statuses, while Evans has clarified his own situation.