Christian McCaffrey power 49ers over Commanders on MNF
San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (#23 center) rushes for a touchdown during the first half Monday against the Washington Commanders at Levi’s Stadium on October 19, 2026. Stephen Lam/S.F. Chronicle
10.19.2026 – Santa Clara, California – The San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy threw a touchdown pass, Christian McCaffrey power ran for two scores and the 49ers made two late stops to hold off the Washington Commanders 23-17 on Monday Night Football for their sixth straight win to open the season.
The 49ers (6-0) didn’t finish off the Commanders (1-4-1) until Keion White and Romello Height barreled past midfield and sacked Jayden Daniels as time expired.
“Winning in the league is incredibly hard, so I’m always happy to win,” tight end George Kittle said. “But when we’re up 20-3 and can’t shut the door on a team that’s been struggling … If we were playing a super-efficient team, we’d lose easily.”
It took more defensive heroics the previous series to preserve that lead: Daniels had a potential go-ahead touchdown pass reach Treylon Burks at the goal line, but Malik Mustapha’s hit dislodged that fourth-down ball, with an assist from the left pylon.
2026.10.19 – (Commanders vs. 49ers) NFL Game Highlights
San Francisco 49ers’ TE George Kittle (#85 left) catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
2026.10.19 – (Commanders vs. 49ers) NFL Full Game Highlights
2026.10.19 – Commanders vs. 49ers – (NBC Post Game)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks can’t come down with a pass as 49ers safety Malik Mustapha defends late in the fourth quarter Monday at Levi’s Stadium. Stephen Lam/S.F. Chronicle
2026.10.19 – Commanders vs. 49ers – (NBC Post Game)
2026.10.19 – Commanders vs. 49ers – (NBC Post Game)
The 49ers had 1 minute, 54 seconds to kill, and they could not do it, not with an offense that stalled all second half without Mike Evans, who limped off with an Achilles injury just before halftime.
“His Achilles tendinitis flared up tonight, I hope he recovers through the week, and I don’t think it’s a long-term thing,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “It cost him this game, cost him two quarters, and hopefully he can play next week; if not, the rest of the group has to step up.”
Evans’ exit is the latest chapter in the 49ers’ weekly attrition among their wide receiver unit. Deebo Samuel (hamstring) got hurt last game in Seattle, and that followed ankle injuries to De’Zhaun Stribling and Demarcus Robinson the first two games.
The Commanders lost their star receiver, too, as Terry McLaurin got carted off with a first-quarter knee injury.
The 49ers now have a short week to prepare for Sunday’s game at the Atlanta Falcons (2-4), followed by a Week 8 bye.
Evans racked up 94 yards on three catches before limping to the locker room immediately after a 16-yard catch into the red zone. The 49ers still finished out that drive with a third touchdown, for a 20-3 halftime lead.
Eddy Piñeiro pushed the lead to 23-3 with a 33-yard, third-quarter field goal. Then the 49ers offense ended with a trio of three-and-out series netting just two yards on nine plays.
The 49ers tried to insist Evans’ exit wasn’t the root of those woes, that miscommunication and missed assignments doomed their offense.
Still, the lead was down to 23-17 with 9:22 remaining once Daniels completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Rachaad White. Aiding and abetting Washington’s drive were 49ers penalties on Renardo Green (illegal contact) and Osa Odighizuwa (roughing the passer).
The 49ers’ counterpunch: a three-and-out series via a Purdy scramble, sack, then incompletion with his wide receiver unit down to Cowing, Jordan Watkins and Brandin Cooks.
2026.10.19 – Commanders vs. 49ers – (NBC Post Game)
Niners wide receiver Mike Evans (#5 center) walks to the locker room after he was injured in the second quarter Monday against the Washington Commanders at Levi’s Stadium. Stephen Lam/S.F. Chronicle
2026.10.19 – Commanders vs. 49ers – (NBC Post Game)
2026.10.19 – Commanders vs. 49ers – (NBC Post Game)
The Commanders’ comeback had 7:46 to work with, and down the field they went in chunks. A fourth-down sack by Height, with 2:56 remaining, was wiped out by an illegal-contact penalty on Ashtyn Davis. It was Davis who earlier surrendered a 30-yard reception by Burks into 49ers territory; Davis was in at nickel back for Upton Stout, who’s been battling a shoulder injury and allowed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs 15 seconds left in the third quarter.
After a Mustapha hit stopped Jeremy McNichols for no gain at the 17, the two-minute warning arrived. Then Mustapha arrived again on the next play to prevent Burks’ go-ahead touchdown.
The Commanders carried momentum into their fourth-quarter comeback by finishing the third with 300-pound defensive tackle Shy Tuttle sacking Purdy.
McCaffrey’s first lost fumble in nearly 550 touches (dating back two years to Green Bay) came at the Commanders’ 21-yard line in the second quarter when K’Lavon Chaisson punched it out. It was his second lost fumble since the 2023 team’s Super Bowl-opening drive.
But McCaffrey is more adept at carrying the ball across the goal line. He twice scored on 1-yard runs, on drives kept alive by fourth-down runs from Purdy. All of McCaffrey’s seven touchdown runs this season have come from 1-yard out except an 11-yard carry in last Sunday’s 32-29 win at Seattle.
McCaffrey’s first score Monday night came on third down behind the blocks of Trent Williams, Dom Puni, Kyle Juszczyk and Luke Farrell. McCaffrey’s second touchdown came up the middle 13 seconds before halftime, on a play that sent ex-49ers defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw out with a knee injury.
The 49ers required less than five minutes for an opening-series touchdown, which came on Purdy’s 11-yard touch pass to Kittle. Purdy completed 5-of-6 passes for 51 yards on that series – giving him 1,501 career passes and qualifying his all-time passer rating (just over 150) as No. 1 in NFL history.
Evans sparked the opening two touchdown drives, first with a 24-yard, third-down completion, then with a 54-yard catch-and-run to the Commanders’ 17.
2026.10.19 – Commanders vs. 49ers – (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
Niners quarterback Brock Purdy (#13 right) scrambles in the second quarter Monday against the Washington Commanders at Levi’s Stadium. Stephen Lam/S.F. Chronicle
2026.10.19 – Commanders vs. 49ers – (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
2026.10.19 – Commanders vs. 49ers – (Krueger & Crew Post Game)
Washington pulled with 23-10 just before the fourth quarter as Daniels delivered a 1-yard touchdown pass to Diggs against Upton Stout’s coverage near the left pylon.
Prior to that score, the 49ers’ defense was almost unfazed in its fourth straight game without Nick Bosa (calf). Sacks came from Odighizuwa, Gracen Halton and Mykel Williams, while big hits came from Stout, Mustapha, Fred Warner and Luke Gifford (groin injury).
The Commanders’ opening drive produced Drew Stevens’ 51-yard field goal to pull them within 7-3. Preceding that was a 27-yard completion to McLaurin on their first snap, but the 49ers responded with big hits by Gifford on a scrambling Daniels and by Mustapha for a third-down pass.
Injuries
Commanders: WR Terry McLaurin exited in the first quarter with a left knee injury that required an air cast before he was taken off the field on a cart. Quinn said the team fears the injury is significant. … DT Javon Kinlaw (knee) also left in the first half.
49ers: Evans left late in the first half with Achilles tendinitis. He missed practice this week because of soreness in the tendon and broken ribs. Shanahan said Evans won’t need additional testing and the injury isn’t believed to be long term. … LB Luke Gifford (groin) and DB Upton Stout (shoulder) also left the game.
Up next (49ers Roster)
Commanders: After a bye, host Philadelphia on Nov. 1.
49ers: Visit Atlanta on Sunday October 25th.
Related: 49ers pulled out a thriller win over host Seahawks (5-0)
Related: See below – 49ers rally to beat Lions and secure Super Bowl trip
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
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