Seven of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans' 49 offensive snaps against the Los Angeles Rams came with him lined up in the slot. That may surprise some, considering Evans was primarily expected to be a boundary target for quarterback Brock Purdy. However, those familiar with head coach Kyle Shanahan's offensive system likely aren't too surprised.
Each wide receiver must be prepared to line up at any receiver position, as versatility is a key requirement in Shanahan's offense.
The Athletic's Matt Barrows noted that Evans started the game in the slot, with his first three catches—all third-down conversions—coming from that alignment.
Shanahan spoke to reporters ahead of Wednesday's practice and discussed Evans' role in the slot during the 49ers' 27-7 victory over the Rams in Melbourne, Australia. He sent a clear signal about expectations for his receivers.
"If you don't play in the slot, it's kind of hard to play in our offense," Shanahan explained. "We're inside the numbers a majority of the time, so even if you're the outside guy, you're still in the slot most of the time. He was lined up truly in the slot on a number of plays, especially two of those third-down plays.
"Mike can do it all. It's awesome that he's a great threat outside the numbers. Our guys are just inside the numbers a lot of the time, and Mike's shown since he's gotten here that he's capable of both."
Evans finished the game with six receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown on seven targets, showing that he remains a difference-maker at age 33.
"Mike is as advertised," Shanahan said. "It's just awesome to be able to go to him on—I think it was like four crucial plays. I forget how many catches he had, but he kept us out there on the field, got us a good touchdown there in the red zone, and Mike's a competitor.
"I think we all know the talent with how big and long he is, but what makes him special is how aggressive he is and how much he wants to fight on game day."
Evans' strong debut also showed how quickly he can make an impact in San Francisco's passing game and gives Shanahan yet another versatile weapon to work into his offense.
Mentioned in this article: Mike Evans, Brock Purdy
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