It was a good win for the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday against the Denver Broncos. The team battled through more injuries, not to mention some pretty intense heat, and secured the victory. Wide receiver Mike Evans decided to suit up and play even though he was dealing with a significant rib injury, and that decision could come back to haunt San Francisco.
On the one hand, it is admirable that Evans was able to play. He ended up hauling in five passes for 76 yards. His ribs probably aren't feeling much better than they did at the start of the game, as he took some big hits from Broncos defenders. Thankfully, he didn't have to leave the game, and head coach Kyle Shanahan raved about his toughness after the game.
Evans knows that the Niners are already down multiple receivers. Maybe if everyone were healthy, he would have sat Week 4 out. But if he were on the sideline, that means the Niners would have had to turn to an unproven option like Jacob Cowing or Jordan Watkins, or maybe even someone they just scooped up off the street, like Brandin Cooks, as a starter.
Mike Evans' decision to play against Broncos may not have been worth it for 49ers
As the veteran of the team, he elected to step up, but there's a chance it could come back to bite the 49ers. They will have their biggest test of the early season in Week 5 as they face the Seattle Seahawks on the road. If Evans is unable to go in that game or tries to play banged up again, it could put the Niners at a serious disadvantage.
Seattle's defense completely dominated the Niners in their last two meetings last season. The Niners were held to just three field goals in those meetings, and their lack of talent at wide receiver really stood out against Seattle's secondary.
That's why Evans was brought into the fold. But if he gave too much of himself in the win against Denver, it could mean the Niners would have to endure the same struggles they did last season.
Maybe the veteran will be fine, and he'll get some treatment to feel better going into next week, but at 33 years old, his recovery isn't exactly a sure thing.
The longtime Buc deserves a ton of credit for his gutsy performance against the Broncos, but if it impacts him negatively or prevents him from playing against Seattle, the consequences may be severe.
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