Kyle Juszczyk says Mike Evans has looked even better than expected during offseason practices, praising him as “unguardable” at practice and a proven red-zone weapon. The praise arrives as Evans enters a three-year, $42.4 million deal with the 49ers after miss
The 49ers didn’t just bring Mike Evans in—they brought a question they want answered.
Evans can still play, and that was never really the issue. He’ll turn 33 in August, and he’s already built a résumé that belongs in the Hall of Fame conversation. The real concern is the one that has followed him over the last stretch: staying healthy.
Over the past two seasons, Evans has missed 12 games for various injuries, including surgery last season for a broken collarbone. When the 49ers signed him this offseason to a three-year, $42.4 million deal, they were betting that his body can hold up this time.
Offseason practices have at least given them something to feel good about. Kyle Juszczyk, a six-time Pro Bowler himself, told NFL Network that Evans has looked “even better than expected” during the team’s offseason work.
“Mike has been so impressive. and I feel like that’s saying so much because we were expecting so much. ” Juszczyk said. via joebucsfan.com. “Your expectations are already high, and I feel like he’s already exceeded that. He has been unguardable at practice. Red zone has been an absolute problem. He’s a great teammate. I think everyone has already enjoyed his presence so much. I think he’s going to be an incredible leader for the wide receivers room. It’s hard to imagine a better addition than Mike has been.”.
Evans isn’t being judged just by reputation, either. The numbers underline how dangerous he is when he’s on the field: he has 866 catches for 13,052 yards and 108 touchdowns. Last season, however, he produced a different kind of story—injury forced the downturn. He finished with career-lows in catches (30). yards (368). and touchdowns (three). and he played only eight games. the result of that broken collarbone limiting him.
What Juszczyk’s comments point to is the version of Evans the 49ers are hoping to see most often: not just productive, but unstoppable when the field tightens—“unguardable” at practice, with the red zone becoming, in his words, “an absolute problem.”
Now the pressure shifts back to the one thing nobody can scheme away. The talent is already there. The stakes are in whether Evans can stay on the field long enough to turn that preseason momentum into another season worthy of his career—and another step toward the resume he’s already building.
Mike Evans Kyle Juszczyk 49ers NFL offseason practice Pro Bowl broken collarbone red zone injuries contract
“unguardable”?? So is he like… not covered at all or are defenses just asleep? lol
This headline sounds great but it’s the same story every year with Evans. They say he looks unstoppable in practice then he gets hurt again and all that money turns into sadness.
I don’t even get why they’re calling it red zone “an absolute problem.” Isn’t that literally the only place he’s supposed to be good? Also $42 million like cmon, just make him healthy.
Juszczyk saying he’s unguardable makes me think the 49ers are already planning the whole offense around him, but then it says he missed 12 games?? Which is it, unstoppable or always hurt. I swear offseason practice doesn’t mean anything, defenses pull punches and everybody’s “best shape” for like 3 days. If he can’t stay on the field that contract is gonna look horrible, doesn’t matter how many catches he had like 100 years ago.