The Green Bay Packers must prepare this week for the return of one of the most important players on the talented offense of the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Tight end George Kittle, who missed last week’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks, is convinced he’ll be good to go for Sunday’s trip to Lambeau Field.
“I will be playing on Sunday,” Kittle said after practice Wednesday, via Nick Wagoner of ESPN. “Very excited. Can’t pass up playing the Packers, so no, I will be out there for sure.”
Kittle was a limited participation at Wednesday’s practice. He said he lacked the necessary confidence in his hamstring to play last Sunday and didn’t want to push it after the hamstring “didn’t feel great on Saturday,” but he’s not concerned about this week. The 49ers will provide a playing status designation on the final injury report on Friday.
Kittle not only leads the NFL in touchdown receptions by a tight end with seven, but he’s one of the best blocking tight ends in football. He’s a vital part of how the 49ers operate both in pass and run games.
According to Next Gen Stats, the 49ers average 5.5 yards per rush with Kittle on the field and only 3.5 yards per rush when he’s not.
And no wonder he wants to play the Packers — the 49ers are 5-5 and desperately need a win to stay in the playoff hunt, and in four of Kittle’s last five games against the Packers, he’s produced at least 80 receiving yards or a touchdown, including a touchdown catch in the postseason last year.
Can the Packers, with a new group of safeties led by Xavier McKinney, do a better job containing Kittle if he plays Sunday? Kittle feasted on Darnell Savage and Jonathan Owens in January’s playoff game, but McKinney and rookie Evan Williams have been excellent at safety in 2024.
Kittle is a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro. Over eight games, he has 43 catches for 560 yards and seven scores. He has a touchdown in six of eight games.