49ers Injury News: Latest on Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, and Demarcus Robinson for Week 9

As the San Francisco 49ers return from their Week 8 bye to prepare for Sunday’s road clash against the Las Vegas Raiders, the spotlight remains fixed squarely on Brock Purdy’s receiving corps.

During an appearance Thursday on KNBR, general manager John Lynch broke down the health status of his battered pass-catchers, mapped out realistic return timelines, and tempered expectations about making another splash trade out wide before Tuesday’s deadline.

The most immediate positive development comes with veteran Demarcus Robinson, who officially returned to the practice field Wednesday after being designated for return from injured reserve.

"Demarcus Robinson back on the field yesterday," Lynch said. "We gotta get him through today’s practice. Thursday’s kind of a grind of a practice. D-Rob was really on a good path. So having him back is a really good sign for us."

If Robinson clears Thursday and Friday without setbacks, he is expected to step right back into the active rotation alongside Christian Kirk, Brandin Cooks, and rookie Jordan Watkins.

Adding another layer of depth, San Francisco also reunited with a familiar face this week by signing KhaDarel Hodge to the practice squad.

"KhaDarel Hodge came back and joined our practice squad. KhaDarel was playing some really good football," Lynch noted. "In the coming weeks, we hope to get Deebo and Mike back in the fold as well. We’ve got those guys coming back."

While Robinson appears on track to suit up in Las Vegas, fans hoping to see Mike Evans return from his bout with Achilles tendinitis will likely have to wait at least one more week.

Asked if Evans could play Sunday, Lynch stopped just short of an official ruling, but made it clear the team is prioritizing the long game:

"I don’t know if I’d rule that out; it’s probably likely that he won’t be out there Sunday. What we’re really trying to do there, he’s got that tendonitis that flared up. I think you learn from the history of them, right? Christian [McCaffrey] had this situation. And every player is different, every situation is different, but you don’t want it to become something that really lingers. So we’re trying to knock it out, such that when he comes back, we’re giving him the best chance to stay back. Mike’s working really hard to do that."

With Deebo Samuel also still working through a lingering hamstring strain that sidelined him through Wednesday's practice, the 49ers are content taking a conservative stance against the Raiders to ensure both Pro Bowl weapons are fully sound for the stretch run.

Lynch also provided an update on rookie receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, who has been sidelined since undergoing surgery following the preseason:

"Strib’s come along well. He had surgery after Australia. He’s tracking well. I’m not going to get into timelines, but Strib’s coming. He fits in that same mold as the profile of Mike Evans, a tireless worker. So Strib is putting the work in. Hopefully, at the end of this season, we’ll have Strib back in the fold."

Despite outside speculation and a reported pursuit of Jauan Jennings prior to the bye, Lynch reiterated that San Francisco's appetite for another major deal is limited after surrendering future draft capital for All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.

"As I’ve said consistently, we’ve probably made the move that we were most targeted on in the DeFo move. That may be it. We’re really happy with our team," Lynch explained. "We’ll see. We’ll keep the phones working until Tuesday until 12:58, I guess, and see what else we can do. And that maybe it. We really love this team."

Barring any late-week trade fireworks, Purdy’s primary pass-catching targets in Las Vegas will feature:

By refusing to rush Evans back onto the field and trusting their in-house depth, the 6-1 49ers are proving that while Week 9 in Las Vegas matters, entering January at full health remains the ultimate objective.