49ers receiver Mike Evans listed as questionable but hopes to play Sunday

Mike Evans has missed just 15 regular-season games over the first 12 years of his NFL career. The first-year San Francisco 49ers wide receiver frequently pops up on injury reports - he dealt with quad and adductor injuries during this year's training camp - but somehow, he nearly always manages to play on Sundays.

This time around, that might not be the case.

Evans, who suffered a rib injury in the 49ers' 36-30 win over the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday, is questionable for this Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Evans will be a game-time decision. Evans was a limited participant in Friday's practice after he did not practice Wednesday or Thursday.

After running a route in the second quarter against Arizona, Evans went down in a heap despite not making contact with an Arizona defender. He struggled to get off the field, dropping to a knee and yelling in pain, before leaving on a cart.

Describing his injury Friday for the first time, Evans said: "That s- hurt bad. … When I ran a route and I turned, I just felt it. It felt like somebody stabbed me in my chest."

Evans said he didn't feel any pain until that play, but acknowledged the injury "might have happened before" then. On the 49ers' very first offensive play, Cardinals safety Budda Baker collided hard with Evans as he ran a route over the middle. He dropped to a knee and called to come off the field. "My head was ringing," Evans said, "but I didn't feel nothing in my chest or rib area."

He returned to the field two plays later and teamed up with Deebo Samuel for a hook-and-ladder touchdown. After Samuel's touchdown, Evans walked off the field rather somberly and took a seat on the 49ers' bench.

Evans said he has played through rib injuries during his career. Asked if he expects to play through this one, he responded: "I'll do my best."

General manager John Lynch called Evans a "tough SOB" and an "old school" player this week. Shanahan, who broke three ribs in his car accident in July, joked that he would not be questionable if he were in Evans' shoes.

"I would be out," Shanahan said, "without a doubt. But he's definitely a lot tougher than me, so hopefully we've got a shot."