SANTA CLARA — Mike Evans did not sound fully plugged into the 49ers yet, and that was part of the point. Asked whether he knew about R.C. Owens’ “Alley-Oop” catches or much of the team’s history, Evans said, “I do not. I do need to learn some,” even as he caught a high ball from Brock Purdy at the goal line in Friday’s first red zone drill of training camp.
The moment mattered because the 49ers are in camp with a receiving group that still looks unsettled, and Evans immediately showed why he could change that. He is 6-foot-5, has 108 touchdown catches, and his 108 scores rank 10th most in NFL history. He has made a career out of winning above the rim, including 51 touchdowns from inside the 10-yard line and 26 from inside the 4 during his 12 seasons at Tampa Bay.
Evans said the fit is built on exactly that kind of work. “I’m 6-5. I have ability and I’ve done it throughout my career,” he said. “When I’m covered, I’m still pretty open if you throw the ball up and get some air.” He added, “That’s one of the biggest things in my game.”
The 49ers have a history that suits that description, and the team’s own landmarks show it. The museum at Levi’s Stadium has a statue of R.C. Owens making the “Alley Oop” catch, and Owens was enshrined in the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. 49ers Hall of Fame 15 years ago. Roger Craig will be entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame next weekend, and the team’s past also includes Colin Kaepernick’s failed fade passes to Michael Crabtree in the 2012 Super Bowl. That backdrop makes Evans’ role feel less like a novelty and more like an attempt to revive a familiar idea near the end zone.
Even so, the immediate test is not history. It is chemistry. Evans spent 12 seasons at Tampa Bay before this camp, and he said his game has always come from a mix of frame and instinct. “When I was in college (at Texas A&M), I made a living off of getting open,” he said. “Johnny Manziel, we had a good connection on jump balls.” He added, “I’ve always used my frame. It comes from my basketball background. I love to box defenders out. And I love competing.”
That is the part the 49ers are betting on. Deebo Samuel agreed Thursday to return on a one-year, $7 million deal, Ricky Pearsall missed half of last season and has a right knee injury, De’Zhaun Stribling has had a glowing start to camp and Christian Kirk had a calf strain during the camp’s first practice. Against that backdrop, Evans’ first clean red zone rep with Purdy was more than a warmup. It was an early sign that the 49ers may have found a receiver who can turn a contested throw into a dependable answer when the field gets tight.
What Evans does not know about the 49ers’ history may not matter for long if the throws keep arriving in the same place. The bigger question now is how fast his jump-ball game becomes part of the passing hierarchy when the season pressure starts to build.
