George Kittle has seen a lot of wide receivers come through San Francisco. But even he can’t quite wrap his head around this one.
The 49ers tight end, who’s still working his way back from an Achilles injury he suffered late last season, admitted after the final open OTA that having Mike Evans on the field still feels unreal. And honestly, you can’t blame him.
“Every single day that I see Mike, I just go, ‘Wow, Mike Evans is here,’” Kittle said. “I pinch myself every day. Also, 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… He takes ball incredibly seriously and I think that just kind of sets the tone for the wide receiver room.”
Evans is already making plays
According to Kittle and an ESPN report, Evans caught somewhere in the range of three to five touchdowns in a single practice session recently. That kind of production at 32 years old is exactly why the 49ers went out and got him from Tampa Bay. He’s not just a big name. He’s still producing at an elite level.
The Niners knew what they were doing when they brought him in. Pairing Evans with Ricky Pearsall gives Brock Purdy two serious weapons on the outside. And with Kittle expected back relatively soon, this offense could be scary good.
San Francisco already looked like the team to beat in the NFC West. Add a future Hall of Famer to that mix and it’s hard to argue with the math. Anyone in that division — outside maybe the Cardinals — has a real shot at the Super Bowl next February.
Kittle didn’t mince words about what Evans brings beyond the stats. He said the veteran’s approach to the game sets a standard in the wide receiver room that just wasn’t there before. That’s not a knock on anyone who came before. It’s just a fact. Evans is different.
The 49ers are betting that difference shows up when it counts.
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