Evans (rib) was carted off, as he seemingly struggled to breathe. Williams (stinger) also left on a cart. Greenlaw (quad contusion) looked to be in a whole lot of pain when he went down early in the fourth quarter.
But Monday, head coach Kyle Shanahan provided an encouraging update: All three are “kind of in the same boat.” That boat, Shanahan said, is that their injuries aren’t considered long-term. They will need to be evaluated and managed throughout the week, but Evans, Greenlaw and Williams have a chance to suit up Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
At this moment, Williams appears to be the most surefire bet to play Sunday. He spoke to reporters postgame and downplayed the stinger in his neck. Shanahan said the 49ers are aiming for the 38-year-old offensive tackle to practice Thursday. Greenlaw exited Sunday’s game, then returned, then was shut down after one play. He dealt with a quad issue last season in Denver; it’s unclear if his current quad contusion is to the same leg. Evans, meanwhile, is dealing with a “rib issue” — Shanahan would not clarify the extent of the injury, but ESPN and NFL Network reported he is considered day-to-day with a rib strain.
It would certainly benefit San Francisco to have those key contributors back against Denver, which pulled out a gutsy win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football. At the same time, it is only Week 4, so the 49ers will have to manage each of their veterans carefully.
Other injury updates: The 49ers expect to open the practice window this week for defensive end Mykel Williams, Shanahan said, so that Williams can ramp up for a return.
Williams, who is working his way back from a torn ACL, could play as soon as Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks. The 2025 first-round pick would offer a big boost to the 49ers’ depleted defensive line with his inside-out versatility.
Rookie defensive end Romello Height, who had surgery on his broken hand last Tuesday, is “expected to practice this week,” Shanahan said. Players who won’t suit up on Sunday: defensive end Nick Bosa (calf/knee) and defensive tackle James Thompson Jr. (high ankle sprain).