The 49ers drafted Indiana RB Kaelon Black in Round 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Black spent his first two seasons at James Madison, emerging as a sophomore with 891 total yards and a 27-254-4 receiving line. He followed HC Curt Cignetti to Indiana and, after a quiet 2024, earned a larger role last fall. Black held the 1B role behind fellow prospect Roman Hemby, posting 186-1040-10 (5.6 yards per carry). He was a non-factor in the passing game, though, mustering only 4 receptions for 36 yards. Overall, Black presents adequate size (5’9, 208 pounds) and a low pad level that helps him fight through contact. He posted a solid 3.47 yards after contact per attempt in 2025. Still, this is a surprising selection considering Black wasn't invited to the NFL Combine. He was graded by The Athletic's Dane Brugler as a 5th-6th round value.

The San Francisco 49ers selected Ole Miss WR De’Zhaun Stribling with the 33rd pick in Round 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Stribling started his college career at Washington State and produced right away. He ranked third on the team with 470 yards as a true freshman before jumping to a team-high 602 the next year. Stribling failed to climb much from there, though. He transferred to Oklahoma State in 2023 but missed most of that season with a broken wrist. In 2024, he led the team with 882 receiving yards but ranked second in catches (52) and TDs (6). Stribling made another move to Ole Miss this past season and posted a 55-811-6 line. He led the Rebels in TDs but ranked second in catches and receiving yards. Among the 49 WRs invited to the Combine, Stribling ranked 24th in dominator rating (24.6%) and 30th in yards per route (2.15). The 6’2, 207-pounder boosted his stock with a 4.36-second 40 time and 9.57 Relative Athletic Score at the Combine. But he arrives in the NFL with a middling production profile and an underdeveloped route tree. Per The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, hitches and gos accounted for 57% of his routes last year.

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan said he expects QB Mac Jones to remain with San Francisco through 2026, according to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. Jones started eight games in place of the injured Brock Purdy last season, going 5-3.

The 49ers might be preparing to hand a high-value job to a player with little NFL experience. According to The Athletic's Matt Barrows, second-year RB Jordan James "appears to be the frontrunner to be the top backup this season." San Francisco drafted James in the fifth round last year, but an injury-plagued summer kept him from competing for a regular-season roster spot. James didn't touch the ball until the playoff loss to Seattle (six carries and one catch at the end of a blowout).

The 49ers are signing WR Christian Kirk to a one-year, $6 million deal, insider Jordan Schultz reports. Kirk tallied a career-low 239 receiving yards in 13 games with the Texans last year. He'll turn 30 in November.

San Francisco agreed to a three-year, $60.4 million deal with longtime Buccaneers WR Mike Evans, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Evans spent his entire 12-year career in Tampa Bay after being selected seventh overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, leaving as the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions (866), receiving yards (13,052), and TDs (108).

49ers TE George Kittle revealed recently that the location of his Achilles injury could have him back on the field sooner than expected. He had a clean tear higher up on the Achilles. "They didn't have to drill into my heel," Kittle explained. "And where the repair was is where there's more blood flow. And so, it takes some time off the recovery time."

WR Mike Evans plans to play in 2026. That's what ESPN's Kimberley A. Martin reports hearing from the player's agents. Evans has spent his entire 12-year career with the Buccaneers but is set to hit free agency in March. He'll turn 33 in August.

ESPN's Nick Wagoner reports that 49ers DL Keion White got shot in the ankle in downtown San Francisco early Monday morning. "According to the team, White is in surgery now," Wagoner posted on X at 7:48 p.m. ET.

WR Mike Evans’ contract expired, and doubt remains about his returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports quoted sources who said it is less than 50-50 that Evans will return to the Buccaneers. ESPN’s Jenna Laine reported today that Evans won’t start thinking about a decision until after the Super Bowl. Despite turning 33 before the start of next season, Evans should have a strong market if he does decide to test free agency.

49ers WR Ricky Pearsall (knee) is active for tonight's game vs. the Seahawks. He was limited in practice all week and listed as questionable, so it's safe to assume he's nowhere near 100%. But Pearsall could still play a big role on a Niners offense missing TE George Kittle.

49ers WR Ricky Pearsall (knee) is listed as questionable for Saturday night's Divisional Round game vs. the Seahawks after a limited week of practice. Pearsall was optimistic about his availability for this one earlier in the week, so we're tentatively projecting him to play. We'll look for further updates on Pearsall's status and get San Francisco's inactives around 6:30 pm ET on Saturday.

49ers WR Ricky Pearsall (knee) is "optimistic" that he'll play vs. the Seahawks on Saturday night. He's been limited in the first two practices of the week, but the ankle issue that had been on the injury report recently is gone. Pearsall has been banged up basically all season, but he's tallied 85+ yards in four of his nine games, including each of his last two. It's unclear exactly how healthy Pearsall will be for this Divisional Round game, but the 49ers could certainly use him with TE George Kittle out.

49ers WR Ricky Pearsall (knee) got in a limited practice on Tuesday. It's an upgrade over last week, when he missed all three practices. With TE George Kittle out, the Niners could certainly use Pearsall in Saturday night's game vs. the Seahawks. We'll keep you updated on his status for that one.

49ers TE George Kittle tore his right Achilles in Sunday's Wild Card win over the Eagles, HC Kyle Shanahan confirmed afterward. That ends Kittle's season and threatens his availability for the start of the 2026 campaign, which kicks off in about eight months. Kittle won't be helped by the fact that he's 32 with a lengthy injury history. It's possible that we never see a dominant version of Kittle again. We'll keep you updated on his rehab progress this offseason. Jake Tonges will step in as San Francisco's lead TE for the rest of this playoff run -- and potentially early next season. He's averaged 6.7 targets, 4.8 catches, 45 yards, and 0.5 TDs across six games without Kittle this season.

49ers WR Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) is inactive for today's Wild Card game vs. the Eagles. No surprise after he missed practice all week. Pearsall's absence leaves Demarcus Robinson and Kendrick Bourne as San Francisco's No. 2 and 3 WRs behind Jauan Jennings.

49ers WR Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's Wild Card game vs. the Eagles. He didn't practice all week. HC Kyle Shanahan said Friday that Pearsall has "a chance" to play in this one, but it seems unlikely. We'll look for further updates on Pearsall's status and get San Francisco's inactives around 3 pm ET tomorrow.

49ers WR Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) did not practice on Wednesday. HC Kyle Shanahan said earlier this week that Pearsall aggravated his PCL injury ahead of the regular-season finale vs. the Seahawks. We're currently projecting him to miss Sunday's Wild Card game vs. the Eagles, but we'll keep you updated on his status.

49ers HC Kyle Shanahan said Monday that a re-aggravated PCL injury kept WR Ricky Pearsall from playing vs. the Seahawks in Week 18. Pearsall missed six games in the middle of the season with the knee injury, returned for four games, but then missed two of the final three. He's seemingly uncertain for Sunday's Wild Card game vs. the Eagles. We'll keep you updated on Pearsall's status throughout the week.

49ers QB Brock Purdy suffered a stinger at the end of Saturday's night's loss to the Seahawks, HC Kyle Shanahan said afterward. Purdy "checked out alright" and could have returned to the game, Shanahan added. It sounds like Purdy will be fine for the playoff opener, but we'll keep tabs on his status this coming week.