Frank Schwab Senior writer Updated Tue, October 20, 2026 at 4:52 AM UTC About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this story At some point, the San Francisco 49ers' injuries might bring them down. It almost happened in the second half on Monday night.
For now, San Francisco's perfect season rolls on. The 49ers raced out to a 20-point lead and it looked like they would cruise to an easy win over the Washington Commanders. But San Francisco's offense stalled with No. 1 receiver Mike Evans sidelined with an Achilles injury he suffered late in the first half, allowing the Commanders to get back in the game. The Niners' defense, which has been a big surprise all season, came up with two big stops in the final two minutes to seal the 23-17 win. The 49ers improved to 6-0 to start the season.
Treylon Burks couldn't haul in a fourth-down pass at the goal line as safety Malik Mustapha, who made a huge hit on a run the previous play, slammed him to the ground.
Washington got one more shot after forcing a punt, but an intentional grounding penalty set the Commanders back and then the 49ers ended the game on a sack.
Brock Purdy played well in the first half, as he has all season, but he needs some help. The 49ers are depleted at receiver and it showed in the second half. That allowed the Commanders to get back in it. Washington hurt themselves, particularly with a facemask penalty that negated a touchdown with a little more than four minutes remaining.
The 49ers look like the best team in football about one-third through the season. It has been a great start, but the injuries are becoming a real concern. The Niners have been the unluckiest team when it comes to injuries for a few seasons, and the bad fortune hasn't stopped.
It wouldn't be a 49ers game without a key injury. Evans, who came into the game with injuries to his ribs and Achilles tendon, left Monday night's game due to the Achilles. He stayed down after a catch late in the second quarter and went straight to the locker room with athletic trainers. He was ruled out of the game by the team.
The 49ers are getting desperately thin at receiver and the injury to Evans, who has made an immediate impact on San Francisco's offense, would be a big blow if he has to miss time. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game that he didn't expect the injury to be long-term .
Still, it's still a lingering issue for a 33-year-old receiver. And a glimpse at the 49ers' offense without Evans wasn't pretty.
The 49ers slowed down on offense in the second half without Evans and the Commanders got back in the game. Jayden Daniels hit Rachaad White on a touchdown pass with 9:22 left and suddenly Washington had cut San Francisco's lead to 23-17. San Francisco had led 23-3 late in the third quarter.
The Commanders forced a quick punt after that and had the ball with a chance to take the lead with 7:46 to go. It looked like an easy night for the 49ers, but Washington was putting San Francisco's perfect record in jeopardy.
Once Washington started getting momentum, the Commanders were hard to stop. Daniels hadn't had a great night, including strangely throwing the ball away on a fourth down in the first half , but he helped get his team back in the game. He did so without top receiver Terry McLaurin, who was lost in the first half when he was carted off due to a knee injury .
The Commanders seemingly took the lead with a little more than four minutes left on a Jeremy McNichols touchdown run, but there was a facemask penalty on Washington guard Chris Paul that negated the score. The 49ers had a big penalty of their own later, when a fourth-down sack was wiped off the board due to an illegal contact penalty that gave Washington a first down.
San Francisco came up with the plays it needed, with Mustapha having two big hits on third and fourth down.
Washington wasn't finished. It forced a three-and-out and got the ball back with less than a minute to go, but no timeouts. A fair catch interference call helped with field position. The Commanders were running out of time but a 17-yard catch by rookie receiver Antonio Williams got the ball to San Francisco's 28-yard line. But an intentional grounding penalty on Daniels was a crushing blow, especially since there was a 10-second runoff, leaving only six seconds on the clock. A sack on the final play sealed the win.
The 49ers survived a scare. Even a great season isn't always going to pretty. And it looks like it could be a memorable year for the 49ers. The injury issues might be the biggest threat to stopping them.
The 49ers, after leading 20-3 at halftime, survive a tight second half to escape with the win.
They are now a perfect 6-0, and are one of just three undefeated teams left in the league alongside the Vikings and Chiefs.
Well, nevermind. Jayden Daniels got called for intentional grounding after he threw it to nobody trying to avoid the sack.
That cost them 10 seconds, and a loss of down. They have just six seconds to work with now.
Washington isn't done yet. The Commanders are in scoring position now, and managing the clock better after last weeks' blunder …
That's a third straight three-and-out for the 49ers, but Washington is now out of timeouts.
The Commanders, down by six, have one last chance here. They'll start at their own 46 yard line, with 52 seconds left.
Treylon Burks couldn't bring the ball down at the end zone, and the 49ers will take over on down here inside the two minute warning.
That should do it. San Francisco will escape with the win.
It's fourth down again now at the 2-minute warning after Mustapha absolute stuffed McNichols at the line there.
The Commanders need three yards to keep their hopes alive.
Wow. After Jayden Daniels was sacked on fourth down, which seemingly would have sealed the game, an illegal contact penalty has given Washington new life.
They'll keep the ball and get a first down.
A facemask penalty wiped off a go-ahead touchdown, and then the 49ers finally stepped up to force a fourth-and-long.
The Commanders called a timeout wiht 3:01 left, and they're going to try and go for it now with eight yards to gain.
Brock Purdy and the 49ers are shutting down offensively. A sack and a rushed throw there led to another three-and-out, and now they'll have to punt.
The Commanders get the ball back with 7:46 left, in a great spot to take the lead here.
The Commanders are right back in this game. Jayden Daniels caught a wild snap and found Rachaad White on a 9-yard slant route for the score.
We've suddenly got a six-point game here with 9:22 left.
It looked like Luke McCaffrey muffed the punt, but a review determined that he didn't quite touch the ball as it came down. What a big break for the Commanders.
We might not be done just yet after all. The Commanders ended the third quarter on a sack, and then kept the pressure up to force a three-and out.
They'll get the ball back now not even a minute into the fourth period.
Finally, the Commanders have found the end zone. Jayden Daniels capped that drive off with a perfect short toss to Stefon Diggs right at the goal line.
They needed that, badly. The 49ers lead 23-10 now with just seconds left in the third quarter.
Jayden Daniels just barely got the snap off there in time, and he found Stefon Diggs for a 13 yard reception on fourth down.
They really need a touchdown here to stay in it.
Brock Purdy got the 49ers down field thanks in part to a deep 35-yard toss to George Kittle. That set up a 33-yard field goal, and pushed their lead to 20 now with 5:56 left in the third.
Back-to-back penalties killed that drive for the Commanders, and then Mykel Williams drilled Jayden Daniels in the backfield on third down to force the punt.
Mike Evans is now officially out the rest of the night with his Achilles injury. Further specifics are not yet known.
Niners wideout Mike Evans is questionable to return to tonight's game with an Achilles injury. The severity of the injury is unclear.
He has been dealing with a tight Achilles tendon.
On a touchdown drive, star wideout Mike Evans checked out of the game with an apparent leg injury after making a 16-yard catch.
All eyes in the second half will be on the Niners' sideline to see if Evans returns to action.
Source: Sports
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