49ers Rule Mike Evans Out After Hit and Breathing Difficulty

The San Francisco 49ers ruled wide receiver Mike Evans out of Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals with a rib injury after he was hit hard, struggled to breathe on the sideline and was taken away on a cart. The incident occurred near the end of the first half, and the team did not provide a final diagnosis in the available reports. Evans was trying to control a pass from quarterback Brock Purdy when Cardinals safety Budda Baker tackled him on his left side. Baker then brought him to the ground. Evans was helped off the field and knelt on the sideline, where he appeared to have difficulty breathing, before medical staff took him away on a cart. He was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the game. The accounts describe signs of discomfort before the collision but do not establish what caused them or whether they were related to the rib injury. One account said Evans appeared hurt on a noncontact play earlier in the game and was holding his collarbone; another said he clutched his side after running a route. The supplied reports do not establish the extent of his injury, the cause of his breathing difficulty or any results from medical testing.