49ers' Mike Evans feels fresh, rejuvenated as offseason program ends early
SANTA CLARA – Mike Evans' highlights were showcased in Wednesday's team meeting, a day before coach Kyle Shanahan lets the 49ers out early for summer break.
"It's hard for young guys not to fan-girl over a guy like that. Even myself, I'll watch him from afar," left tackle Trent Williams said. "Coach put him up on the big board today. For OTAs in, what Year 13, taking it serious as he did, that to me is an example of why he is who he is."
Evans' addition was the 49ers' most prominent offseason move, and his self-described "smooth" transition after 12 years in Tampa Bay bodes well for an offense that must overcome NFC West superpowers in Seattle and Los Angeles.
"Every day I see Mike, I say, ‘Wow, Mike Evans is here.' I pinch myself every day," tight end George Kittle said. "If you look back at the 49ers, this is like the first legit veteran wide receiver I've had on my roster since Emmanuel Sanders in 2019, in my opinion. Nothing against all the other veteran receivers I've had, but he's a Hall of Famer who is a First Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl guy. He's an incredible wide receiver."
It was no surprise to see Evans break free against Deommodore Lenoir to catch Brock Purdy's first pass of team drills Wednesday. More wide-open catches followed. Evans even darted into a scrum to block on a run play.
Evans’ arrival was the expected star attraction in an offseason program that is ending early. The final organized team activities will take place Friday, with Shanahan nixing next week’s mandatory minicamp as a reward for players’ participation (and perhaps to avoid next week’s final World Cup preparations at Levi’s Stadium).
"He takes ball incredibly seriously, and that sets the tone for the wide receiver room, especially with a bunch of young guys in there," added Kittle, whose Achilles recovery had him running on the side in hopes of a Week 1 comeback.
Like Kittle, a major injury impacted Evans, too, last season. He missed nine games, initially due to a hamstring strain before sustaining a fractured collarbone.
After producing 1,000 yards in each of his first 11 seasons, Evans planned on easily breaking Jerry Rice's record and being the first to string together 12 straight 1,000-yard campaigns. All he totaled was 368 yards last season on his way out as the Bucs' all-time leading receiver.
"It was super disappointing. I'm extremely competitive and for me to not break that record, I thought I was going to break it easy, how hungry I was going into that season," Evans said. "In life, some things are not going to go your way.
"I look at that injury as a blessing in disguise. I'm feeling really fresh, I'm feeling rejuvenated and I'm in a new spot, a change I felt needed."
And change is what's come to a 49ers' receiving corps that relied on past playoff runs with Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk, the latter of whom remains on the roster's reserve/left-squad list. Aiyuk also has a Santa Clara County warrant out for his arrest in regards to last December's viral video of him speeding past Levi's Stadium.
As for Evans, he met the media for the first time face to face Wednesday and wore a sleeveless T-shirt that read "humble over hype."
"Sometimes you get around certain guys and every single day it's something different," wide receivers coach Leonard Hankerson said. "But with Mike, you know exactly what you're getting from him. He comes in, works his tail off, asks questions, writes his notes, sits in the very first seat in the room. If there's something he doesn't understand, he asks."
AUSTRALIAN OPENER
Williams didn’t mince words about the Rams hosting the 49ers in Australia rather than SoFi Stadium, saying: “It took away a home game, in my opinion. It's probably why we had to go to Australia to play the Rams, to cover up the deficiencies in ticket sales on their end. Nobody wants to travel 20 hours to play a game.”
Kittle is unsure how his surgically repaired Achilles will respond to the long flights, assuming he travels and plays. “Play over there in front of an awesome crowd, huge stadium, 110,000 people. It sounds sick to me. Might as well just take advantage of it,” Kittle said.
WILLIAMS’ FUTURE
Williams confirmed he envisions retiring after two more seasons, which conforms to April’s two-year, $50 million contract revision. Last season’s playoff push was inspirational, as was this offseason’s roster moves.
“That did restore the fun into it, you could say,” Williams said of 2025. “The season prior, excuse my language, was a (clown) show. To be faced with so much adversity the next year and overcome, we showed we can be successful and it provides the fun you get addicted to when playing and winning.”
GARRETT REACTION
Williams let out a cheeky smile when asked about the Rams’ trade Monday for defensive end Myles Garrett. “Same as everybody. Everybody that's not in Rams country. It sucks,” Williams said. “… I ain’t the only one that’s got to block him. There are 30 other teams, too.”
Added Kittle: “Good for them. Nothing I can do about it. They traded for him for a reason. We're in a very good division. It's going to be a fun challenge.”
Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, who held that role with the 2021-23 Rams, said he was not surprised when he heard the news. “I know those guys well, and it wasn't a shock,” Morris said.
WEDNESDAY’S PICKS
Morris rubbed it in on Purdy when the 49ers intercepted him, with Malik Mustapha doing so first before Darrell Luter undercut a tipped pass to Evans. Morris praised Purdy’s offseason work, however, saying: “He is a layer king. So accurate. Puts ball right spot. He's torched me for years.”
Another interception came when Eli Apple collected a wobbly pass from Kurtis Rourke, who is vying for a No. 3 role with Adrian Martinez. Mac Jones did not throw Wednesday because of a sore shoulder that checked out clean and should be ready for training camp, which is expected to open July 25 or 26.
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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 5:20 PM.