NFL Exec Predicts Injuries for 49ers' Evans, Greenlaw

Shocking forecast casts doubt on San Francisco's offseason moves

Apr. 5, 2026 at 4:51pm by Ben Kaplan

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An unnamed NFL executive has made a bold prediction that the San Francisco 49ers' high-profile offseason acquisitions, wide receiver Mike Evans and linebacker Dre Greenlaw, will both suffer significant injuries in the 2026 season. The executive believes Evans will miss 4-6 games, while Greenlaw will be sidelined for 8 games, raising concerns about the 49ers' ability to stay healthy.

Why it matters

The 49ers have dealt with injury issues in recent seasons, which has contributed to frustration among fans and the team. This prediction, if accurate, would further undermine the 49ers' offseason efforts to bolster their roster and raise questions about the team's ability to stay healthy and compete at a high level.

The details

According to Mike Sando of The Athletic, the NFL executive made the prediction, saying: "Everyone starts talking about the substation and, 'Why are we always hurt?' It's because you sign hurt players. Mike Evans is going to miss 4-6 games this year, Dre Greenlaw is going to miss eight, and you are going to wonder why your players are always hurt."

  • The 49ers signed Mike Evans and Dre Greenlaw as free agents this offseason.

The players

Mike Evans

A wide receiver who the 49ers signed as a free agent this offseason.

Dre Greenlaw

A linebacker who the 49ers signed as a free agent this offseason.

Osa Odighizuwa

A player the 49ers added to their roster this offseason.

Christian Kirk

A player the 49ers added to their roster this offseason.

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What they’re saying

“Everyone starts talking about the substation and, 'Why are we always hurt?' It's because you sign hurt players. Mike Evans is going to miss 4-6 games this year, Dre Greenlaw is going to miss eight, and you are going to wonder why your players are always hurt.”

— NFL Executive

What’s next

The 49ers will be closely monitoring the health and progress of Evans and Greenlaw throughout the offseason and preseason to see if this prediction holds true.

The takeaway

This prediction from an NFL executive highlights the ongoing challenges the 49ers face with player injuries and the importance of maintaining a healthy roster in order to compete at a high level. The team's ability to manage these injury concerns will be crucial to their success in the 2026 season.