Akayleb Evans Injury News & Updates

Evans (hamstring) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Jets.

Evans missed the Panthers' Week 6 win over the Cowboys and was limited in practice both Wednesday and Thursday, but he upgraded to a full session Friday and is now in line to play Sunday. The 26-year-old corner from Missouri has played 57 total snaps (50 on special teams, seven on defense) through five appearances this season, recording four total tackles.

Evans (hamstring) remained a limited participant in practice Thursday.

Evans has kicked off Week 7 prep with consecutive limited practice sessions after missing Carolina's Week 6 win over the Cowboys. Friday's practice participation level will shed some light on Evans' chances of returning to action Sunday against the Jets.

Evans (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Cowboys.

Evans likely sustained a hamstring injury in Carolina's Week 5 win over the Dolphins that's now holding him out of Sunday's contest. The fourth-year pro has played just seven defensive snaps through five games, so his absence will likely have minimal impact on the Panthers' defense in Week 6.

Evans (ribs) has been participating in OTAs, Jeff Hawkins of The Charlotte Post reports.

Evans is working with the second-team defense to begin OTAs. He has recovered from the rib injury he suffered in Carolina's 2024 season finale. Evans could earn a larger role in the secondary with a strong camp.

Evans (ribs) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's contest against Atlanta, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Evans was hurt early in the second quarter and was ruled out just after halftime. While he was in the game, the Missouri product logged two tackles (both solo). Evans will finish the 2024 campaign with five tackles over nine games between Minnesota and Carolina.

Evans (ribs) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Falcons, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Evans injured his ribs during the second quarter of Sunday's game. He got the start at outside corner for Jaycee Horn (hip), but Caleb Farley will likely fill in for as long as Evans is sidelined.

The Panthers claimed Evans off waivers Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

The third-year corner from Missouri was waived by the Vikings on Saturday after playing almost strictly on special teams (just three defensive snaps in seven games) this season, but he's already found a new home in Carolina. Evans played 832 defensive snaps across 15 regular-season games with the Vikings in 2023, recording 65 total tackles and seven passes defended, including one interception. He's now expected to serve as a depth piece in the Panthers' secondary.

Minnesota is waiving Evans on Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Evans was a fourth-round selection by the Vikings in the 2022 NFL Draft and started all 15 regular-season games in which he played last season. However, he's been used almost exclusively on special teams this year, logging only three defensive snaps over seven contests. Undrafted rookie Dwight McGlothern, who has yet to play this season while consistently being a healthy scratch on gameday, could start to see some work with Evans now out of the mix.

Evans (hip) was a full practice participant Thursday.

Evans has missed the Vikings' last three games due to a hip issue, but his ability to practice in full Thursday indicates he should be able to return against the Jaguars on Sunday. Evans has mostly played on special teams and has registered two tackles (one solo) across six regular-season games.

Evans (hip) is inactive for Sunday Night Football against the Colts.

The depth cornerback missed the Vikings' last two games with the hip issue but participated fully in practice Wednesday. Fabian Moreau and Josh Metellus are now Minnesota's only available backup corners for Sunday night's game.

Evans (hip) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.

Evans had missed Minnesota's last two games due to a hip injury; however, Wednesday's full practice suggests he's moved past the issue. Expect the third-year cornerback to continue serving as a depth piece in the Vikings' secondary as the season progresses.

Evans (hip) is inactive for Thursday night's game against the Rams.

Evans was unable to play against the Lions in Week 7, and he'll be sidelined for a second straight game due to a hip injury. His next chance at playing will be Week 9 against the Colts on Nov. 3. Evans has played mostly on special teams this year and has accrued two tackles (one solo) across five regular-season contests.

Evans (hip) is questionable for Thursday's game against the Rams.

Evans has been limited in practice this week after missing the Vikings' Week 7 loss to the Lions. The third-year pro has been pretty much limited to special teams work so far this season, so his potential absence in Week 8 wouldn't impact Minnesota's defense in any way unless further injuries occur.

Evans (hip) was listed as a limited practice participant on the Vikings' injury report Tuesday, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Evans was unable to play against the Lions on Sunday due to a hip injury. The 2022 fourth-round pick will have one more chance Wednesday to avoid an injury designation heading into Thursday night's game against the Rams. Evans has primarily served on special teams this year and has accrued two tackles (one solo) across five regular-season games.

Evans (hip) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Lions.

A fourth-round pick in 2022, Evans has played just three defensive snaps across five appearances this season. He's mostly been limited to special teams work for Minnesota.

Evans was limited to 15 snaps on special teams in Sunday's win over Houston. He did not play a snap on defense.

After starting 15 games and playing 832 snaps on defense last season, Evans has been relegated to a special teams role. He's played just three snaps on defense this season.

Evans logged 65 total tackles, seven pass deflections and three forced fumbles in 15 games with Vikings during the 2023 regular season.

The second-year corner out of Missouri saw a major uptick in work from his rookie year, starting all 15 of the games he appeared in for Minnesota and playing almost 700 more snaps than in 2022. Evans definitely struggled at times, even getting benched during Minnesota's Week 16 loss to the Lions, but the 24-year-old still was able to finish third on the Vikings in forced fumbles and fourth in pass deflections. It's uncertain what role Evans will play on the Vikings' defense next season, but he'll likely look to be more consistent going into his third year.

Evans was benched in the second half of Sunday's loss to Detroit but not due to an injury, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. Evans had three total tackles.

Evans was apparently benched for performance reasons after giving up five receptions on six targets for 52 yards and missing two tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. Jaylin Williams replaced him but had a crucial illegal contact penalty late in the game. It's not clear if Evans will regain his starting role.

Evans recorded four tackles (three solo) and an interception in Saturday's 27-24 overtime loss at Cincinnati.

Evans came up with the first pick of his young career in the middle of the third quarter in Week 15 on a badly-underthrown ball by Jake Browning intended for Irv Smith. Even still, he hasn't exactly been stellar in coverage this season, especially not downfield, and Minnesota's defense has a tough test on tap in Week 16 versus the Lions.

Evans (calf) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice session.

Evans sustained a calf injury in Week 10 against the Saints. He missed the next two games but looks to be on track to play Sunday against the Raiders, thanks to the Vikings' Week 13 bye week. Through 10 games, Evans has recorded 49 tackles (36 solo), five pass deflections and three forced fumbles.

Evans (calf) is inactive for Monday's Week 12 clash with Chicago.

Evans will miss his second straight game due to a calf injury he suffered in a Week 10 win over New Orleans. The second-year cornerback followed a pair of limited practice sessions to begin the week with a full session Saturday, so he appears to be closing in on a return. With the Vikings on bye next week, it's likely that Evans will be able to play in their next game, which will take place in Las Vegas on Dec. 10.

Evans (calf) is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Bears, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.

Evans missed Week 11 against the Broncos after sustaining a calf injury in Week 10 against the Saints. He was a limited participant in practice Thursday and Friday and his status may not be fully known until 90 minutes before kickoff time. Mekhi Blackmon played a season-high 50 defensive snaps at left corner in Week 11 when Evans was out and the former would appear to reprise that starting role if the latter is ruled out for Monday's game.

Evans (calf) is listed as out for Sunday's game at the Broncos.

Evans will sit out his first game of the season in Week 11 as he tends to a calf injury he sustained in Week 10 versus the Saints. In his absence, 2022 second-rounder Andrew Booth will probably see an uptick in reps at corner Sunday.

Evans (calf) was a non-participant in Wednesday's estimated practice.

Evans exited Sunday's win over the Saints early in the fourth quarter due to a calf injury and was unable to return. Rookie Mekhi Blackmon stepped in for Evans in that contest and would likely start this Sunday in Denver if the latter is unavailable. Evans' likelihood of suiting up against the Broncos should become clearer as Week 11 prep progresses.

Evans has left Sunday's game against the Saints due to a calf injury, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Evans suffered the injury early in the fourth quarter, so he won't have much time to make it back in the game, but he is still considered questionable to return. While he is out of action, Andrew Booth and Mekhi Blackmon will be candidates for action snaps at corner.

Evans (neck) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

Evans was able to overcome an oblique injury to play in Sunday's game against the Patriots and finished the game with four solo tackles while playing all but one defensive snap. Evans had also dealt with a knee injury that limited him in practices earlier in the season. Barring any setback, he should be good to go for Week 9 against the Falcons.

Evans (oblique) has been cleared to play in Monday's game against the Vikings.

After a week of limited practice sessions, Evans' health is close enough to par for him to suit up. Barring any setbacks, he should take on his usual role at cornerback opposite Byron Murphy.

Evans (oblique) is listed as questionable ahead of Monday night's game against San Francisco.

The 24-year-old cornerback of Missouri was limited all week in practice, as he's been dealing with oblique soreness since Minnesota's Week 6 win over Chicago. If Evans is unable to go Monday night, Andrew Booth and Mekhi Blackmon will likely see an increased workload in the Vikings' secondary.

Evans (oblique) was a limited participant at the Vikings' practice Thursday.

Evans is dealing with an oblique issue that popped up in Week 6 versus Chicago, but his ability to practice Thursday in any capacity bodes well for his chances to go Monday versus San Francisco. The linebacker will look to increase his workload this week at practice ahead of the Week 7 matchup.

Evans is tending to oblique soreness Monday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

It's not clear at this point whether Evans is actually in any danger of sitting out in Week 7 versus San Francisco. Minnesota's injury reports this week will provide further insight regarding his availability.

Evans (knee) is good to go for Sunday's game in Chicago.

After subsequent limited sessions to begin the week, Evans participated fully at Friday's practice. He limped off the field with the assistance of Minnesota's medical staff during the second half of last week's loss to the Chiefs, but appears to have put the issue behind him. Barring any setbacks, he is in line to take on his usual workload at corner.

Evans is questionable to return Sunday versus Kansas City due to a knee injury, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Evans limped off the field with the assistance of Minnesota's medical staff during the second half, marking the second time he has done so during Sunday's contest, per Goessling. With the second-year cornerback sidelined for the time being, expect Andrew Booth and/or Mekhi Blackmon to take on larger roles alongside starting cornerback Byron Murphy.

Evans had 11 total tackles in Sunday's loss to the Chargers.

Evans started at cornerback opposite Byron Murphy and played on 60 of the defense's 66 snaps. Minnesota's inability to get off the field on defense could result in high tackle totals for Evans and members of the secondary.

Evans started at cornerback opposite Byryon Murphy and had five total tackles and two passes defensed in Sunday's loss to Tampa Bay.

Evans played on 62 of the defense's 68 snaps. He fared well in coverage by allowing just two receptions on six targets for 12 yards, according to Pro Football Focus.

Evans (concussion) was able to participate in Vikings OTAs, Matthew Coller of Sports Illustrated reports.

The 2022 fourth-round pick suffered a concussion during Week 13's win against the Jets, landing him on injured reserve for the rest of his rookie campaign. He's since had the offseason to move past the issue and has been taking first-team reps at cornerback alongside Byron Murphy and Andrew Booth. Expect the Missouri product to continue competing for a starting position on the Vikings defense ahead of his second NFL season.

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said Friday that Evans (concussion) cleared protocols and is still being monitored heading into the playoffs, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Evans has missed the last four games while on IR with a concussion, leaving Week 18 as his earliest possible date to return. However, the rookie cornerback was never designated to return to practice during Week 18 prep, so he's unlikely to be restored to the active roster in time for Sunday's regular-season finale versus Chicago. It will be worth monitoring how Evans' practice activity is handled heading into the wild-card round of the playoffs next week.

Minnesota placed Evans (concussion) on injured reserve Wednesday.

Evans had already been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Lions due to a concussion he picked up during the Week 13 win over the Jets, but he'll now be sidelined for at least four weeks after landing on IR. In Evans' absence, Duke Shelley is a prime candidate for an increased role in Minnesota's secondary, though Cameron Dantzler (ankle) could return to the mix soon after a stint on IR.

Evans has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Lions due to a concussion, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Evans exited Sunday's win over the Jets and has been diagnosed with a concussion. He'll be forced to miss at least one game, and he'll need to clear several steps as part of the league's concussion protocol before he's able to return to practice. Duke Shelley and Kris Boyd are candidates to see increased roles in Minnesota's secondary while Evans is sidelined.

Evans was evaluated for a concussion during Sunday's 27-22 win over the Jets, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.

Evans was making his return from a two-game absence due to a previous concussion. The 23-year-old recorded six tackles and a pass defended before exiting in the second half, and it's unclear if he was ever officially diagnosed with a concussion before the end of this Week 13 contest. It will be worth monitoring Evans' status heading into next Sunday's divisional matchup against Detroit.

Evans enters the weekend without an injury designation and will make his return to the field Sunday versus the Jets.

Evans will return to Minnesota's secondary after missing the last two contests while recovering from a concussion. In his final two games prior to getting hurt, Evans recorded 12 tackles while seeing an increased workload with the defensive unit. The cornerback will likely step back into a significant role as the Vikings take on the Jets and will still be operating without Cameron Dantzler (ankle), who is on IR.

Evans (concussion) was listed as a full participant on the Vikings' injury report Wednesday.

Evans sustained a concussion in Week 10 and was sidelined for the Vikings' last two games. While it's unclear if he's cleared the league's protocols for head injuries yet, Minnesota coach Kevin O'Connell said that the rookie cornerback should be available to play Sunday against the Jets, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Evans primarily played on special teams over the first seven games of the season, but he recorded 13 tackles and one pass defended while playing all but nine of his 86 snaps on defense since Week 9. When healthy, he should once again play a consistent reserve role with fellow cornerbacks Andrew Booth (knee) and Cameron Dantzler (ankle) both on IR.

Evans (concussion) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against New England, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Evans was a limited participant at practice all week, and he'll be forced to miss a second consecutive game since the Vikings have a short week. Andrew Booth (knee) has also been ruled out, so Duke Shelley should see additional playing time in Minnesota's secondary.

Evans (concussion) was a limited participant on Monday's estimated practice report, Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune reports.

Evans suffered a concussion during Week 10's win over the Bills, and he was unable to play in Sunday's loss to the Cowboys. Although he'll still need to clear concussion protocols to play Thursday against the Patriots, his limited participation could be a sign he is close to gaining clearance.

Evans (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against Dallas.

Evans suffered a concussion during the Vikings' Week 10 win over the Bills and will remain sidelined for at least one additional game after not practicing at all during Week 11 prep. The rookie was in line to take over as a starter after Minnesota placed Cameron Dantzler (ankle) on IR, but Andrew Booth will be the next man up with Evans sidelined.

Evans was ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Bills with a concussion.

Evans logged six tackles before sustaining a concussion at some point during Sunday's contest. The 23-year-old was expected to take on a starting role against Buffalo, as starting cornerback Cameron Dantzler (ankle) was placed on injured reserve Saturday. With Evans out, second-round rookie Andrew Booth has stepped in to make his defensive debut for Minnesota, according to Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Evans is likely to start Week 10 with Cameron Dantzler (ankle) expected to be sidelined, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Evans racked up six tackles and one pass breakup versus Washington in Week 9, when Dantzler's ankle injury forced him to leave the field early. The rookie fourth-round pick proved productive while handling 69 percent of defensive snaps last week, so if thrust into a starting role again versus the Bills on Sunday, he could be worth fantasy consideration in deeper IDP formats.

Evans had six tackles, two tackles for a loss and a pass defensed in Sunday's win at Washington.

Evans was pressed into starting duty when Cameron Dantlzer left with an ankle injury. Evans played on 44 of the defense's 63 snaps. He had several big plays including a key fourth-down pass breakup. He could start at cornerback if Dantzler misses time.

Evans does not have an injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Dolphins, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Evans was in concussion protocol to start the week, but his lack of a designation indicates that he has been cleared. He has served almost exclusively on special teams to begin the season, which is likely to continue Sunday against the Dolphins.

Evans (concussion) was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

Evans is working his way through the concussion protocol, and it looks like he could have a chance of gaining clearance in time to suit up Week 6 at Miami. The rookie cornerback has mostly contributed on special teams this season.

Evans is being evaluated for a concussion during Sunday's game against the Bears.

Evans is unlikely to return considering the evaluation is taking place late in the fourth quarter. However, if he did suffer a concussion it will certainly have an impact on his status moving forward. The rookie corner had not tallied any stats before exiting the contest.

Evans had one tackle and played six snaps on defense in Sunday's win over Green Bay.

The 2022 fourth-round draft pick got some playing time when Cameron Dantzler left briefly due to cramps. Evans and Andrew Booth look like the top backup cornerbacks to begin the season.

The Vikings selected Evans in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 118th overall.

Evans is a battle-tested player who spent five seasons in the college ranks. He started out at Tulsa and went to Missouri as a graduate transfer, where he led the team in forced fumbles (2) and broke up seven passes. Evans is rangy at 6-foot-2 with 32-inch arms but his long speed with a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash is middling for a boundary corner. The Vikings already took Andrew Booth out of Clemson earlier in the draft, but Evans is added depth insurance in the secondary.