Yes, Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel likely will not play for the San Francisco 49ers in the Week 9 game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. General manager John Lynch said so on Thursday, November 5, 2026, on KNBR 680’s Murph and Markus show. Lynch did not fully rule Evans out, saying, “That is probably likely that he will not be out there Sunday.” Both wide receivers were listed as non-participants at Wednesday’s practice, and the 49ers, who are 6-1 and hold the number one seed in the NFC, will have to plan without their two veteran wideouts if the early signs hold.
Quick Facts
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| Game | San Francisco 49ers against the Las Vegas Raiders, Week 9, Sunday at Levi’s Stadium |
| Kickoff | 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday |
| Who said it | 49ers general manager John Lynch, on Thursday, November 5, 2026 |
| Where he spoke | KNBR 680’s Murph and Markus show |
| Mike Evans status | Likely out, with Achilles tendinitis in his right Achilles, plus a ribs issue on the injury report |
| Deebo Samuel status | Likely out, with a hamstring injury suffered in Week 5 |
| Evans this season | 33 years old, 27 passes caught for 420 yards and three touchdowns in six games |
| Samuel missed games | Has not played since Week 5, Sunday would be his third straight missed game |
| Wednesday practice | Both Evans and Samuel were listed as non-participants |
| Expected back | Demarcus Robinson and KhaDarel Hodge expected back for Sunday |
| 49ers record | 6-1, number one seed in the NFC |
| Other injury note | Christian McCaffrey, listed with a hamstring issue, also did not practice Wednesday |
What John Lynch Actually Said
John Lynch spoke on Thursday, November 5, 2026, on KNBR 680’s Murph and Markus show, and his message was clear even if it was not absolute. He said that Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel likely will not play in the Week 9 game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. For Evans, he left a small door open, saying, “That is probably likely that he will not be out there Sunday.” That wording is careful. It is not a final ruling out, and it is not a promise that Evans will play. It is a general manager telling fans to expect the team to be without him, while keeping a little room for a late change.
Both Evans and Samuel were listed as non-participants at Wednesday’s practice, which backs up Lynch’s words. A non-participant tag on a Wednesday, just days before a Sunday game, is a strong sign that a player is not close to returning. It does not prove that a player cannot play, but it shows that the player is not taking part in the normal work of the week. When both wide receivers carry that tag at the same time, the team has to build its game plan around other names.
Mike Evans and the Achilles Problem
Evans has Achilles tendinitis in his right Achilles. He first dealt with it in the Week 5 game against Seattle, aggravated it in the Week 6 win over Washington, left late in the first half of that game, and has not played since. He missed the Week 7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the 49ers’ first loss of the season, and the team then had its Week 8 bye. He did not practice on Wednesday. Evans was also listed with a ribs issue on the injury report, which adds to the concern, even if the Achilles is the main problem keeping him out.
Achilles tendinitis is the kind of injury that can linger if it is rushed. Lynch pointed to Christian McCaffrey’s own battle with Achilles tendinitis in 2024, when McCaffrey missed the first nine weeks of the season before returning in Week 10, saying the team does not want the injury to become something that lingers. That comparison is a warning and a lesson in one. McCaffrey is a star player, and the 49ers waited a long time for him in 2024. They are now showing the same patience with Evans, rather than pushing him back for one game and risking a longer absence.
Deebo Samuel and the Hamstring Injury
Samuel has a hamstring injury suffered in the Week 5 win over Seattle, and he has not played since. Sunday would be his third straight missed game. That is a long absence for a hamstring injury, and it shows how seriously the team is taking the problem. A hamstring can feel better for a day and then tighten again, and teams often hold a player out until he can run at full speed without fear of a setback. Samuel’s absence has already stretched across two games and a bye week, and the signs point to a third missed game.
Samuel and Evans were hurt in the same Week 5 game against Seattle, which is why the 49ers are now facing the loss of both wide receivers at once. Losing one top wide receiver is a problem. Losing two at the same time changes the shape of the offense. The team has to find yards and catches from other players, and it has to do so against a Raiders defense that will know the 49ers are short at the position. That is the challenge for Sunday, and it is why the return of other receivers matters so much.
Who Steps Up and What It Means for Sunday
The 49ers do expect some help back for Sunday. Demarcus Robinson and KhaDarel Hodge are expected back, and Robinson has been out since a high-ankle sprain in Week 2. Their return will give the team more options at wide receiver, even if neither player is a direct replacement for Evans or Samuel. Robinson has been out for a long stretch, so his return is a boost, and Hodge adds depth and experience to the group. Together, they will help fill the gaps left by the two likely absentees.
The game itself kicks off at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, and the 49ers will go into it at 6-1, with the number one seed in the NFC. That record gives them a cushion, but it does not make the game easy. The Raiders will see a team without its two top wide receivers, and they will plan for that. For fantasy football managers, the message is to prepare a replacement rather than count on Evans. The wider NFL picture in Week 9 is also moving, with other teams making big lineup calls. For a look at another Week 9 decision, read the report on the Eagles starting Joe Milton at quarterback in Week 9 against the Giants. The 49ers also have other news to follow, including the report on Brandon Aiyuk returning as reinstatement papers were filed, and the report on Brysen Wright committing to Miami and reclassifying to 2027.
Why the 49ers Are Being Careful
The 49ers are being careful because the season is long and the goal is bigger than one game in Week 9. At 6-1, with the number one seed in the NFC, they have earned the right to rest a veteran rather than risk a longer injury. Evans is 33, Samuel has already missed two games, and both players are central to the team’s plans for the second half of the season. A win on Sunday would be welcome, but a healthy Evans and Samuel for the weeks ahead would be worth more.
The McCaffrey example from 2024 is the clearest guide to the team’s thinking. McCaffrey missed the first nine weeks of the season before returning in Week 10, and the team waited because it did not want the Achilles problem to linger. Lynch is now applying the same logic to Evans. The team has seen what happens when an Achilles issue is rushed, and it does not want to repeat that mistake. That patience may frustrate fans who want to see Evans on the field on Sunday, but it is the choice of a team that is thinking about December and January, not just November.
There is also a simple football reason to be careful. A wide receiver who cannot run at full speed, cut sharply, or jump for a ball is not helping the team, even if he is on the field. A hamstring injury limits speed and burst. An Achilles problem limits push off and change of direction. If Evans and Samuel are not close to full fitness, playing them could hurt the offense as much as help it, and it could leave them worse off for the next game. Sitting them out, and letting Robinson and Hodge return, gives the team a cleaner plan for Sunday.
Will Mike Evans play against the Raiders in Week 9?
He likely will not play. General manager John Lynch said on Thursday, November 5, 2026, that Evans likely will miss the game, saying, “That is probably likely that he will not be out there Sunday.” He did not fully rule Evans out, but the signs point to an absence.
What is wrong with Mike Evans?
Evans has Achilles tendinitis in his right Achilles, first dealt with in Week 5 against Seattle and aggravated in Week 6 against Washington. He was also listed with a ribs issue on the injury report, and he did not practice on Wednesday.
How long has Deebo Samuel been out?
Samuel has a hamstring injury suffered in the Week 5 win over Seattle and has not played since. Sunday would be his third straight missed game, after he missed the Week 7 loss to Atlanta and the team had its Week 8 bye.
Who will play at wide receiver for the 49ers on Sunday?
The 49ers expect Demarcus Robinson and KhaDarel Hodge back for Sunday. Robinson has been out since a high-ankle sprain in Week 2. For fantasy managers, the advice is to prepare a replacement rather than count on Evans.
Sources
- NBC Sports Bay Area: Mike Evans likely to miss Week 9 for the 49ers
- Bleacher Report: Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel injury statuses updated by GM John Lynch
- NBC Sports Pro Football Talk: Mike Evans unlikely to play in Week 9
Final Thoughts
The news from John Lynch is clear, even if it is not final: Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel likely will not play against the Raiders on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. Evans is dealing with Achilles tendinitis that has kept him out since Week 6, Samuel has a hamstring injury that has kept him out since Week 5, and both were non-participants at Wednesday’s practice. The 49ers are 6-1 and hold the number one seed in the NFC, so they can afford to be careful, and the return of Demarcus Robinson and KhaDarel Hodge will help. For fans and fantasy managers alike, the plan for Sunday should assume the 49ers will be without their two veteran wide receivers.
