MELBOURNE, Australia — Mike Evans was trying to downplay it, and he even started muttering the old cliché about how every game is important. But then he stopped himself.“It’s in Australia … the first game of the season … my first game with this team … division opponent,” the 49ers receiver reminded himself. “Yeah, I guess there is a little bit extra juice. For sure.”With all the talk surrounding the Los Angeles Rams’ trading for pass rusher deluxe Myles Garrett and bringing Aaron Donald out of retirement, 49ers players clear their throats when talking about the signing of Evans, who had 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.“You can’t put a cornerback on him one-on-one, so that will open things up for everyone else on our offense,” tight end George Kittle said.
George Kittle says Mike Evans needs no coaching points: pic.twitter.com/fovjZSk04b
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) September 9, 2026The 6-foot-5 Evans is the first true X receiver coach Kyle Shanahan has had since his days with Julio Jones winning one-on-one matchups in Atlanta. “He’s a stud,” Shanahan said before Wednesday’s practice.Quarterback Brock Purdy and left tackle Trent Williams were also giddy about the acquisition of the likely Hall of Famer, and he has not disappointed.“He’s a gold-jacket player, and it’s kind of what you expect,” Williams said. “We ain’t seen nothing less whenever he’s been on the field. It’s been cool having him around — just another veteran presence, another guy that’s a household name, done this for a long, long time at a very high level.
