SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers finished Sunday’s win over the Arizona Cardinals without receiver Mike Evans (ribs), left tackle Trent Williams (shoulder stinger) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (quad) but they aren’t expecting to miss them for long.
Niners coach Kyle Shanahan provided updates on all three injured players Monday, revealing that none of the issues are expected to be long term and that Evans, Williams and Greenlaw will be monitored as this week goes on with the possibility of playing against the Denver Broncos on Sunday not yet ruled out.
“Really, all three of these guys are kind of in the same boat,” Shanahan said.
The 49ers also plan to open the practice window for second-year defensive end Mykel Williams on Wednesday. The No. 11 pick in the 2025 NFL draft has been on the physically unable to perform list because of a torn right anterior cruciate ligament. Since he was on the PUP list to open training camp, he’s eligible to return to practice now but can’t play in a game until Week 5.
On Sunday evening, it was Evans’ injury that drew most of San Francisco’s concern, in part because it was unclear whether it was a rib or oblique ailment. But Shanahan said Monday that Evans is dealing with a rib issue that the Niners will manage this week, similar to how they did with Evans’ hip injury last week.
Evans departed the game against Arizona in the second quarter, walking slowly off the field and favoring his right rib cage before eventually going to the locker room on a cart. The Niners ruled out a potential return for him at halftime.
“We’ll have to evaluate him throughout the week,” Shanahan said. “It shouldn’t be long term and we’ve got to see how it goes throughout the week.”
Trent Williams sustained a stinger in his shoulder and neck area in the third quarter and also went to the locker room on a cart. He soon returned to the sideline but did not reenter the game as Vederian Lowe finished at left tackle.
Shanahan said Trent Williams “should be good to go by Thursday’s [practice],” noting that the team will keep an eye out for any issues stemming from the stinger.
Greenlaw left the game late, returned for one play then went to the sideline for good with Shanahan saying after the game that they “shut him down.” Shanahan said Monday that Greenlaw has a bruised quad but again indicated that Greenlaw will just have to go easy this week, so the bruise heals.
Elsewhere on the injury report, Shanahan said defensive end Nick Bosa (calf) and defensive tackle James Thompson Jr. (ankle) will not play Sunday against the Broncos. Shanahan added that the team is hoping that rookie defensive end Romello Height (broken hand) will return to practice this week after sitting out Sunday’s game against Arizona.
