NFL Player News

Evans (hip) intends to play Sunday versus the Cardinals, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.

Evans opened Week 3 prep with back-to-back absences due to a hip injury, but his return to drills Friday as a limited participant left him questionable to suit up this weekend. Considering he doesn't require a full week of practice to be his normal self on game days, he should resume his role as the 49ers' top wide receiver Sunday, assuming he's deemed active about 90 minutes before a 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff.

Garrett (knee) is facing a six-week recovery from surgery on his left knee, but the pass rusher is determined to be back before then, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and ESPN reports.

Garrett required a knee scope after Week 1 and was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 17. He's already missed one game as a result and must sit out at least three more contests while on the list, but Rapoport's report indicates his rehab may extend beyond the Rams' Week 6 road matchup with the Cardinals on Sunday, Oct. 18.

Williams recorded 10 tackles (four solo) during Thursday's 35-14 loss to Atlanta.

Williams reached double-digit tackles for a second consecutive week, with the third-year safety co-leading the Packers in stops in Thursday's loss. He's up to 27 tackles (17 solo) and two pass defenses through three regular-season games and leads Green Bay in stops, with linebacker Zaire Franklin and Edgerrin Cooper tied for the second-most total tackles on the Packers (21 each).

McKinney recorded five tackles (four solo) and one interception during the Packers' 35-14 loss to the Falcons on Thursday.

It looked like the Packers' defense was going to make Thursday night a miserable 2026 debut for Michael Penix after the Falcons' QB was picked off by McKinney on the fourth play of Atlanta's first drive of the game, although Green Bay's offense was unable to capitalize on the takeaway. It was only two seasons ago that McKinney led the NFL with eight interceptions, though he's logged three picks across 19 regular-season games since the beginning of the 2025 campaign. He's opened the 2026 campaign with 12 tackles (nine solo) and one interception, and he's behind pace for the third 100th-tackle season of his seven-year NFL career.

Franklin tallied 10 tackles (three solo) during the Packers' 35-14 loss to the Falcons on Thursday.

Franklin played every single defensive snap for the third week in a row and finished Thursday's game tied with Evan Williams for most tackles on the Packers. It was the first time this season that Franklin logged double-digit stops after doing so five times across 17 regular-season games in 2025. The veteran linebacker is up to 21 tackles (seven solo) and is on pace to crack the 100-tackle mark for a fifth consecutive year.

Bates recorded four tackles (one solo) and one pass defense during the Falcons' 35-14 victory over the Packers on Thursday.

Bates played 65 of 66 defensive snaps during Thursday's win, though interestingly, he has yet to play every single defensive snap through three regular-season games after doing so 16 times last year. The veteran safety leads the Falcons with 17 total tackles, with his eight solo stops being fourth-most on the team.

Watts recorded five tackles (three solo) and one interception during Thursday's 35-14 win over the Packers.

The Falcons put together an all-around performance for their first win of the season, with Watts putting the finishing touches on the victory by picking off Jordan Love within the last two minutes of the fourth quarter. Watts, a third-round selection of the Falcons in the 2025 NFL Draft, finished his rookie season with five interceptions, tied for second-most in the league behind Kevin Byard (seven). Watts has 16 tackles (10 solo), one interception and one forced fumble through the first three games of the 2026 regular season.

Smith caught two passes on three targets for 16 yards during Thursday's 35-14 loss to Atlanta.

Smith was able to contribute to the Packers' passing attack Thursday after failing to log a target in Week 2 against the Jets .His 22 snaps on offense were second-most among Green Bay tight ends behind Tucker Kraft (50) and ahead of both Mark Redman (eight) and Josh Whyle (one). Smith will take a 4-66-0 receiving line (on six targets) into the Packers' Week 4 road tilt against the Buccaneers on Sunday, Oct. 4.

Sturdivant tallied three catches on as many targets for 22 yards during the Packers' 35-14 loss to the Falcons on Thursday.

Sturdivant's nine-yard catch late in the third quarter was the first of his NFL career. He went on to haul in two more passes of three and 10 yards in the fourth quarter and finished Thursday's contest having played 21 of the Packers' 66 snaps on offense (31.8 percent). Most of that playing time came when Green Bay was facing a large deficit, but Sturdivant figures to see at least some involvement in the offense given the uncertainty around the status of Jayden Reed (neck) for the rest of the 2026 season.

Melton logged 21 of 66 offensive snaps during Thursday's 35-14 loss to the Falcons but did not catch his only target. He also recorded two tackles and turned two kickoff returns into 46 yards.

Melton played a total of 42 snaps Thursday, split evenly between special teams and offense, and his offensive snap count was fourth-most among Packers wide receivers. Despite the spike in playing time, Melton shouldn't factor into the team's offensive game plan unless a larger role opens up for the 2022 seventh-rounder due to the absence of one or multiple wide receivers.