Despite a training camp riddled with injuries, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans intends to be on the field for the team’s Week 1 opener against the Rams in Australia, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who added that the veteran receiver’s groin injury is considered minor.

Evans, who signed a three-year, $60.4 million deal with San Francisco in March after 12 seasons with the Buccaneers, has been unable to stay on the practice field since camp opened. He first missed time with a strained quadriceps before dealing with hamstring tightness, and the groin injury has since kept him out of practice this week. The 49ers have maintained the issue isn’t considered serious, and coach Kyle Shanahan has said he hopes to have Evans back at practice before the team departs for Australia.

The six-time Pro Bowler enters his age-33 season looking to bounce back from an injury-shortened 2025 in Tampa Bay, where hamstring and clavicle issues limited him to eight games and just 46 receiving yards per contest. Evans became the first player in NFL history to record 1,000-plus receiving yards in each of his first 11 seasons, and San Francisco is counting on him to be Brock Purdy’s top outside target this season.

The 49ers’ receiver room has been hit particularly hard this summer. Rookie De’Zhaun Stribling battled hamstring tightness early in camp, Christian Kirk has been out since straining his calf on the first day of camp, and the team is still working Deebo Samuel back into the fold after re-signing him on a one-year deal. San Francisco also lost Ricky Pearsall for the season after he underwent surgery to repair a PCL injury in his knee.

Evans’ push to play through the groin issue comes as the 49ers prepare for a demanding start to the season, opening in Melbourne, Australia, against the Los Angeles Rams before returning home to face the Miami Dolphins in Week 2.

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers get promising update on injured veteran WR

Reporting by Oliver G., Niners Wire / Niners Wire

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect