The San Francisco 49ers signed two notable wide receivers in free agency this offseason. One, Mike Evans, is a future Hall of Famer, signed to a $42.4 million contract. The other, Christian Kirk, is a former 1,000-yard receiver signed for $6 million.
Unfortunately, both are sidelined at 49ers training camp. Their absences come after 2024 first-round pick Ricky Pearsall was already lost for the season after surgery on his PCL.
So… about those electrical substation theories? They’re back.
Mike Evans Injury Feeds 49ers’ Electrical Substation Talk
Evans has been one of the NFL’s healthiest wide receivers throughout his 12-year NFL career. He recorded a 1,000-yard season for the first 11 years of his career until a hamstring injury limited him to just eight games last season.
Yet, the 32-year-old receiver returned to full health, playing in Weeks 14-17. While he may have entered his 13th training camp at 100%, Evans is now sidelined with a quad injury.
While the 49ers’ injuries continue to mount, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports the one Evans is dealing with is “very minor.”
Still, after yet another 49ers player got sidelined by injury, social media had a field day, bringing those electrical substation theories back into play.
One commenter said, “The substation gotta chill man.”
The substation gotta chill man https://t.co/N1hd7w3uKg
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) August 3, 2026
Even Dr. Jesse Morse chimed in on this one.
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“Still think I’m ’tin foil hat’ crazy with my Electrical Substation theory for the 49ers?”
Still think I’m ’tin foil hat’ crazy with my Electrical Substation theory for the 49ers? https://t.co/uL02cnK7uO
— Jesse Morse, M.D. (@DrJesseMorse) August 3, 2026
SI’s Grant Cohn reacted almost as if the Evans injury would have been the perfect parody at a time like this, saying, “You can’t make this stuff up.”
Mike Evans has a quad strain. You can’t make this stuff up.
— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) August 3, 2026
Another just posted a picture of the alleged electrical substation causing all this damage.
“Never beating the allegations.”
Never beating the allegations. pic.twitter.com/p48VaExlxO
— Allen Sales (@AllenSales) August 3, 2026
One commenter piggybacked off that idea by adding a Leonardo DiCaprio meme over it.
“The substation looming over practice.”
The substation looming over practice https://t.co/wgSxpNCt02 pic.twitter.com/iHHp5SXQmu
— Memes (@PardonMyMeme) August 3, 2026
Meanwhile, one commenter said that it’s “genuinely shocking” the 49ers are still practicing next to the electrical substation.
Genuinely shocking that they are still practicing on that field https://t.co/Q2IsnCve1g
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) August 3, 2026
Another went to the old reliable classic wrestling meme, showing the 49ers getting the short end of the stick.
— BuffBoy 🦬 (@skobuffss) August 3, 2026
One commenter simply can’t believe the possibility that the 49ers’ string of injuries is a “coincidence.” They suggested the “entire medical staff should be fired.”
Like bro this truly can’t be a coincidence, their entire medical staff should be fired.
And at this point whether or not the substation thing is real or not just move the practice facility.
This has gotten so out of control man. https://t.co/uiuyJ3vGLN
— Cam (@42Cyc) August 3, 2026
Clearly, some people are sick and tired of the 49ers’ injuries. Before the 49ers do something drastic like “fire the entire medical staff,” maybe they should look into holding camp elsewhere for an offseason, just to see if they have better luck.
