The San Francisco 49ers have been brilliant to this point in the season and they have managed an undefeated record (6-0) as they prepare for their final game before the bye week. They are facing an inconsistent Atlanta Falcons team that is going to be determined to bounce back from a 31-23 defeat to the Chicago Bears.
The circumstances of the game are also tough for the 49ers, because they are coming off a surprisingly tight 23-17 Monday night victory over the Washington Commanders, so that means they have are contending with a short week to prepare for a somewhat dangerous opponent.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan will not concede anything in this game because he has one of the best quarterbacks in the game in Brock Purdy and he has been sensational to this point in the season. The same holds for running back Christian McCaffrey.
Purdy has been on fire for the Niners
It will be very difficult for the Falcons to slow either one down. Purdy is already in the discussion for the Most Valuable Player Award as he has completed 119 of 171 passes for 1,460 yards with 14 touchdown passes and 2 interceptions. The San Francisco offensive line has protected him quite well, as Purdy has been sacked just 5 times.
McCaffrey may no longer be as quick or as explosive as he was during his peak years with the Niners or the Carolina Panthers. He has rushed for 350 yards and 7 touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. He is also one of the best pass-catching running backs in the NFL, and that is likely how the 49ers will use him in this game because of significant wide receiver injuries.
The biggest of those injuries is to dynamic Mike Evans, and that's a huge problem for Shanahan. He has been a game-changing receiver throughout his career and he has made a huge impression in his first season with the Niners.
Evans has been ruled out with Achilles, rib injuries
Evans has meant even more to the Niners than they had considered when they signed him as a free agent in the offseason. He has demonstrated to the rest of the team how to prepare for an NFL season, a particular opponent and how to use the tools he has to help his team win games.
The 33-year-old has is in his 13th season in the NFL and his first with the Niners. He had 12 brilliant seasons with the Tampa Bay Bucs before signing with the Niners, a team he knew had a legitimate chance to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Prior to the 2025 season, the 6-5, 233-pound Evans could be counted on to play a full season without fail, but wear and tear has started to impact his ability to stay on the field.
He has been battling Achilles tendinitis this season. He left the Week 6 victory over the Commanders at halftime, and he has been ruled out of this game. In addition to the Achilles issue, Evans has a rib injury that is also impacting him. The hope for the 49ers is that he will be able to return in Week 9 when the Niners host the Las Vegas Raiders.
Evans has already caught a a team-leading 27 passes for 420 yards and 3 TDs, with 9 plays of 20 yards or more and an average of 70.0 receiving yards per game.
Samuel is also out for the Niners
Making matters worse for the 49ers is that fellow wideout Deebo Samuel will also miss the game. He is the team's second-leading wide receiver, and he has a hamstring issue that is clearly impacting his ability to move on the football field. He was not able to participate in practice at any point this week and Shanahan also ruled him out of the game.
Brandin Cooks, Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins will handle the WR spots in the 49ers lineup. The strong likelihood is the bulk of the Niners receiving chores will be handled by tight end George Kittle and McCaffrey. Kittle is the second-leading receiver on the team with 27 receptions for 337 yards and 5 touchdowns. When he catches a ball in full stride, he has shocking speed for a tight end and is a threat to take the ball a long distance.
McCaffrey is far more than a safety valve receiver out of the backfield. He can run multiple short, medium and long routes, and the Niners will likely use him out of the backfield in that fashion in this game.
In addition to Evans and Samuel, edge rusher Nick Bosa has been ruled out with a calf injury. Other notable players who have been ruled out include starting S Marques Sigle with an ankle injury and depth LB Grant Wallow with a hamstring problem.
This is not a must game for the 49ers. Their 6-0 record has given them a three-game lead over the Seattle Seahawks, and the most important thing for the Niners will be coming out of this game without any additional injuries. That may not be something they can control, but it is clearly something that could matter more than remaining undefeated at this point in the season.