Mike Evans has already etched himself into 49ers lore with epic day vs. Seahawks

Technically speaking, Mike Evans became a San Francisco 49er back in March, when the team announced his signing of a three-year contract. But technicalities be damned; the day Evans truly became a 49er was just before midway through Sunday’s game against the Seahawks.

Just before halftime, the broadcast cameras caught Evans getting into a bit of trash talk with Seattle corner Trevon Diggs. While it’s not clear what the two said to one another, it became very clear that the Niners receiver won the back-and-forth when he turned Diggs to read his team plate as if to say, “Who are you?” The move goaded Diggs into throwing a one-handed shove at Evans, who laughed as he walked away.

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That viral moment was just one (albeit notable) piece of Evans’ full-on arrival with the Niners. In just one game he already surpassed another aging future Hall of Famer the Niners once signed to bolster a Super Bowl-aspiring offense in Randy Moss. For his first taste of this bloodthirsty NFC West rivalry, he made seven catches for 113 yards, one touchdown and a two-point conversion.

Not only were all of his catches highlight-worthy, but they were a perfect distillation of why San Francisco brought signed him in the first place. Kyle Shanahan’s side needed a receiver who could make the important play when called upon without fail. That’s exactly what he did whether it was toe-tapping on a sideline grab, beating his man on a jump-ball, out-muscling a defender in the end zone or simply being in the right place at the right time for a Brock Purdy dot.

As if that wasn’t impressive enough, he did all of that while his body continues to recover from two broken ribs. Last week was a truly heroic feat as he played through conspicuous agony that came through at the end of every play he was involved in. He still required the protective vest under his jersey to keep his injury from getting any worse this week, but if there were any lingering affects from an injury that would keep anyone else bedridden, he didn’t show it on Sunday.

In fact, he was in quite a jovial mood at the podium after the 32-29 win, especially when a reporter asked him about that mini confrontation with Diggs.